In Vitro Developmental Neurotoxicity Following Chronic Exposure to 50 Hz Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in Primary Rat Cortical Cultures.

Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4731

Study snapshot

PublicationToxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology · 2016

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Exposure to 50-60 Hz extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) has increased considerably over the last decades. Several epidemiological studies suggested that ELF-EMF exposure is associated with adverse health effects, including neurotoxicity. However, these studies are debated as results are often contradictory and the possible underlying mechanisms are unknown. Since the developing nervous system is particularly vulnerable to insults, we investigate effects of chronic, developmental ELF-EMF exposure in vitro. Primary rat cortical neurons received 7 days developmental exposure to 50 Hz block-pulsed ELF-EMF (0-1000 μT) to assess effects on cell viability (Alamar Blue/CFDA assay), calcium homeostasis (single cell fluorescence microscopy), neurite outgrowth (β(III)-Tubulin immunofluorescent staining), and spontaneous neuronal activity (multi-electrode arrays). Our data demonstrate that cell viability is not affected by developmental ELF-EMF (0-1000 μT) exposure. Depolarization- and glutamate-evoked increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) are slightly increased at 1 μT, whereas both basal and stimulation-evoked [Ca(2+)]i show a modest inhibition at 1000 μT. Subsequent morphological analysis indicated that neurite length is unaffected up to 100 μT, but increased at 1000 μT. However, neuronal activity appeared largely unaltered following chronic ELF-EMF exposure up to 1000 μT. The effects of ELF-EMF exposure were small and largely restricted to the highest field strength (1000 μT), ie, 10 000 times above background exposure and well above current residential exposure limits. Our combined data therefore indicate that chronic ELF-EMF exposure has only limited (developmental) neurotoxic potential in vitro.

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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 typein_vitro

Effect directionmixed

PopulationPrimary rat cortical neuron cultures

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 7 days (developmental exposure)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Cell viability was not affected by 7-day exposure to 50 Hz block-pulsed ELF-EMF (0–1000 μT). Calcium responses were slightly increased at 1 μT and modestly inhibited at 1000 μT; neurite length was unchanged up to 100 μT but increased at 1000 μT, while neuronal activity was largely unaltered up to 1000 μT. Authors conclude effects were small and largely restricted to the highest field strength, indicating limited developmental neurotoxic potential in vitro.

Outcomes measured

Cell viability (Alamar Blue/CFDA assay)
Intracellular calcium homeostasis ([Ca2+]i; depolarization- and glutamate-evoked responses)
Neurite outgrowth/neurite length (β(III)-Tubulin immunofluorescent staining)
Spontaneous neuronal activity (multi-electrode arrays)

Limitations

In vitro model (primary rat cortical cultures) may not generalize to in vivo or human developmental neurotoxicity
Effects described as small and largely restricted to the highest field strength (1000 μT), far above background and above residential exposure limits
Sample size and replication details not provided in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "7 days (developmental exposure)"
  },
  "population": "Primary rat cortical neuron cultures",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cell viability (Alamar Blue/CFDA assay)",
    "Intracellular calcium homeostasis ([Ca2+]i; depolarization- and glutamate-evoked responses)",
    "Neurite outgrowth/neurite length (β(III)-Tubulin immunofluorescent staining)",
    "Spontaneous neuronal activity (multi-electrode arrays)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Cell viability was not affected by 7-day exposure to 50 Hz block-pulsed ELF-EMF (0–1000 μT). Calcium responses were slightly increased at 1 μT and modestly inhibited at 1000 μT; neurite length was unchanged up to 100 μT but increased at 1000 μT, while neuronal activity was largely unaltered up to 1000 μT. Authors conclude effects were small and largely restricted to the highest field strength, indicating limited developmental neurotoxic potential in vitro.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro model (primary rat cortical cultures) may not generalize to in vivo or human developmental neurotoxicity",
    "Effects described as small and largely restricted to the highest field strength (1000 μT), far above background and above residential exposure limits",
    "Sample size and replication details not provided in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "block-pulsed",
    "primary rat cortical neurons",
    "developmental exposure",
    "neurotoxicity",
    "cell viability",
    "calcium homeostasis",
    "neurite outgrowth",
    "multi-electrode arrays",
    "1000 μT"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv242
PubMed: 26572663

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