The effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on skin and thyroid amine- and peptide-containing cells in rats: an immunohistochemical and morphometrical study.

Environmental research · 2005 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5159

Rats exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz; 100–300 microT; 54–160 V/m) showed a significantly increased number of serotonin-positive mast cells in the skin and increased NPY-containing nerve fibers in the thyroid compared with controls.

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental research · 2005

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on mast cells (MCs), parafollicular cells, and nerve fibers in rat skin and thyroid gland. The experiment was performed on 24 2-month-old Wistar male rats exposed for 4h a day, 7 days a week for 1 month to EMFs (50 Hz, 100-300 microT, 54-160 V/m). After sacrifice, samples of skin and thyroid were processed for indirect immunohistochemistry or toluidine blue staining and then were analyzed using the methods of stereology. The antibody markers to serotonin, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP) were applied to skin sections and PGP, CGRP, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) markers to the thyroid. A significantly increased number of serotonin-positive MCs in the skin and NPY-containing nerve fibers in the thyroid of rats exposed to ELF-EMF was found compared to controls, indicating a possible EMF effect on skin and thyroid vasculature.

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 directionharm

Population2-month-old Wistar male rats

Sample size24

ExposureELF · 4 h/day, 7 days/week for 1 month

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Skin mast cells (serotonin-positive)
Thyroid nerve fibers (NPY-containing)
Parafollicular cells (thyroid)
Nerve fibers in skin and thyroid (markers: PGP 9.5, CGRP, substance P, NPY)

Limitations

Exposure source/device not described in the abstract
Only male rats studied
Short exposure duration (1 month)
Outcomes are histological/immunohistochemical markers; clinical/functional outcomes not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "4 h/day, 7 days/week for 1 month"
  },
  "population": "2-month-old Wistar male rats",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Skin mast cells (serotonin-positive)",
    "Thyroid nerve fibers (NPY-containing)",
    "Parafollicular cells (thyroid)",
    "Nerve fibers in skin and thyroid (markers: PGP 9.5, CGRP, substance P, NPY)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz; 100–300 microT; 54–160 V/m) showed a significantly increased number of serotonin-positive mast cells in the skin and increased NPY-containing nerve fibers in the thyroid compared with controls.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure source/device not described in the abstract",
    "Only male rats studied",
    "Short exposure duration (1 month)",
    "Outcomes are histological/immunohistochemical markers; clinical/functional outcomes not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "microtesla",
    "V/m",
    "rat",
    "skin",
    "thyroid",
    "mast cells",
    "serotonin",
    "neuropeptide Y",
    "NPY",
    "CGRP",
    "PGP 9.5",
    "substance P",
    "immunohistochemistry",
    "stereology"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "ELF exposure parameters (50 Hz, microtesla/V/m) could be relevant to occupational ELF contexts, though the abstract does not specify an occupational source."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.envres.2005.02.003
PubMed: 16307979

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