Effects of exposure to 50 Hz electric field at different strengths on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities in the brain tissue of guinea pigs

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of varied exposure to 50 Hz extremely low frequency (ELF) electric field (EF) on the lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in the brain homogenates of guinea pigs. Subjects were exposed to 2 kV/m, 2.5 kV/m, 3 kV/m, 3.5 kV/m, 4 kV/m, 4.5 kV/m and 5 kV/m electric fields for three days, 8 h a day in both vertical and horizontal directions.

Materials and methods: Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were measured in order to identify possible alterations in lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant status due to electric field exposure. Xanthine oxidase (XO), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities were also evaluated in the same samples.

Results: Although the study showed several positive but non-significant findings (p > 0.05), we did not find significant differences among all of the exposed groups and sham groups in lipid peroxidation levels and enzyme activities (p > 0.05) at all strengths and in both directions. Furthermore, the result was the same when the comparison was made between the groups in vertical directions and horizontal directions (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The present study observed effects of 50 Hz EF exposure on lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant defense mechanisms but these were not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Further research on the effects ELF-EF exposure on lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant defence mechanisms are warranted.

Keywords:

• Extremely low frequency (ELF)
• electric field
• oxidative stress
• antioxidant enzymes