Effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on three plasma membrane-associated enzymes in early...

Exposure to a 60 Hz, 4 uT electromagnetic field caused significant changes in levels of 5'nucleotidase (5'NT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) during early embryonic development in the chicken. Enzyme levels were significantly higher in embryos with various forms of anatomic malformations (abnormal) than in those with no visible abnormal characteristics (normal). The presence of the electromagnetic field was associated with a marked reduction in enzyme activities in abnormal embryos. Overall mean specific activities for 5'NT, AChE and ALP were 12, 57, 67 and 38, 196, 111 nmol/min/mg protein in abnormal-exposed versus abnormal-control embryos, respectively. In normal-exposed versus normal-control embryos, the values were 5, 28, 57 and 10, 29, 58, respectively.