Enhancement in the ATP level and antioxidant capacity of Caenorhabditis elegans under continuous exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field for multiple generations

Abstract

Purpose

Safety concerns about the effects of long-term extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure on human health have been raised. To explore the effects of continuous exposure to ELF-EMF on organisms for multiple generations, we selected Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism and conducted long-term continuous exposure studies for multiple generations under 20 °C, 50 Hz, and 3 mT ELF-EMF.

Materials and methods

Each generation of worms was treated with ELF-EMF from the egg in the same environment. After long-term exposure to ELF-EMF, the body length of the worms was detected, and 15th generation adult worms were selected as the research object. The ATP level and ATPase were detected, and the expression levels of genes encoding ATP synthase (r53.4, hpo-18, atp-5, unc-32, atp-3) were detected by RT-PCR. In worm’s antioxidant system, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by dichlorofluorescein staining, and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were investigated. The expression of genes encoding superoxide dismutase (sod-1, sod-2, sod-3) was detected in adult (60 h) worms of the fifteenth generation (F15).

Results

These results showed that the body length of F15 worms increased significantly, ATP content increased significantly, ATP synthase activity was significantly enhanced, and the expression levels of the r53.4, hpo-18, atp-5, and atp-3 genes encoding ATPase were significantly upregulated in F15 worms. In addition, SOD activity increased significantly, and the expression levels of the sod-1, sod-2, and sod-3 genes encoding SOD were also significantly upregulated in F15 worms.

Conclusions

These results indicated that continuous exposure to 50 Hz, 3 mT ELF-EMF for multiple generations can increase the body length of worms, induce the synthesis of ATP and enhance the antioxidant capacity of worms.

Keywords:

• ELF-EMF
• caenorhabditis elegans
• body length
• oxidative stress
• ATP level

Disclosure statement

The authors report that there are no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by a grant from Xiamen Key Laboratory of Physical Environment [110000A062].

Notes on contributors

Yahong Wang

Yahong Wang, PhD Candidate, is an Assistant Research at the Laboratory of Physical Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Yongyan Sun

Yongyan Sun, is a Researcher at Tianjin Key Laboratory of Hazardous Waste Safety Disposal and Recycling Technology, Tianjin University of Technology, China.

Ziyan Zhang

Ziyan Zhang, is a Researcher at the Laboratory of Physical Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Zhihui Li

Zhihui Li, is now a master degree candidate at the Laboratory of Physical Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Hongying Zhang

Hongying Zhang, PhD Candidate, is an Assistant Research at the Laboratory of Physical Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Yanyan Liao

Yanyan Liao, is a Researcher at the Laboratory of Physical Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Chao Tang

Chao Tang, is a researcher at the Laboratory of Physical Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Peng Cai

Peng Cai, is the Header at the Laboratory of Physical Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. He is a member of The Bioelectromagnetic Society.