Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on intracellular calcium transients in cardiomyocytes.

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2015 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4708

Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes exposed to rectangular-wave pulsed ELF-EMF (15, 50, 75, 100 Hz; 2 mT) showed increased [Ca2+]i baseline and increased frequency of calcium transients, with decreased transient amplitude and decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium …

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2015

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Calcium transients play an essential role in cardiomyocytes and electromagnetic fields (EMF) and affect intracellular calcium levels in many types of cells. Effects of EMF on intracellular calcium transients in cardiomyocytes are not well studied. The aim of this study was to assess whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) could affect intracellular calcium transients in cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to rectangular-wave pulsed ELF-EMF at four different frequencies (15 Hz, 50 Hz, 75 Hz and 100 Hz) and at a flux density of 2 mT. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) was measured using Fura-2/AM and spectrofluorometry. Perfusion of cardiomyocytes with a high concentration of caffeine (10 mM) was carried out to verify the function of the cardiac Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) and the activity of sarco(endo)-plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA2a). The results showed that ELF-EMF enhanced the activities of NCX and SERCA2a, increased [Ca(2+)]i baseline level and frequency of calcium transients in cardiomyocytes and decreased the amplitude of calcium transients and calcium level in sarcoplasmic reticulum. These results indicated that ELF-EMF can regulate calcium-associated activities in cardiomyocytes.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationCardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) baseline level
Frequency of calcium transients
Amplitude of calcium transients
Sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium level
Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) activity
SERCA2a activity

Limitations

In vitro preparation (isolated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes), limiting direct inference to intact organisms or humans
Exposure duration not reported in the abstract
Sample size not reported in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) baseline level",
    "Frequency of calcium transients",
    "Amplitude of calcium transients",
    "Sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium level",
    "Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) activity",
    "SERCA2a activity"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes exposed to rectangular-wave pulsed ELF-EMF (15, 50, 75, 100 Hz; 2 mT) showed increased [Ca2+]i baseline and increased frequency of calcium transients, with decreased transient amplitude and decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium level. ELF-EMF exposure was reported to enhance NCX and SERCA2a activities.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro preparation (isolated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes), limiting direct inference to intact organisms or humans",
    "Exposure duration not reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "cardiomyocytes",
    "calcium transients",
    "intracellular calcium",
    "NCX",
    "SERCA2a",
    "2 mT",
    "15 Hz",
    "50 Hz",
    "75 Hz",
    "100 Hz"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Study involves ELF exposure parameters (Hz range, mT) relevant to occupational/ELF discussions, though no specific workplace source is stated."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3109/15368378.2014.881744
PubMed: 24499289

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