Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Measuring DNA Damage and Repair in Mouse Splenocytes After Chronic In Vivo Exposure to Very Low Doses of Beta- and Gamma-Radiation
Published on: July 3, 2015
Brain DNA damage and 70-kDa heat shock protein expression in CD1 mice exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic
Giuseppina Mariucci1, Milena Villarini, Massimo Moretti
1Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Purpose:
The question of whether exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF), may contribute to cerebral cancer and neurodegeneration is of current interest. In this study we investigated whether exposure to ELF-MF (50 Hz-1 mT) harms cerebral DNA and induces expression of 70-kDa heat shock protein (hsp70).
Materials And Methods:
CD1 mice were exposed to a MF (50 Hz-1 mT) for 1 or 7 days (15 h/day) and sacrificed either at the end of exposure or after 24 h. Unexposed and sham-exposed mice were used as controls. Mouse brains were dissected into cerebral cortex-striatum, hippocampus and cerebellum to evaluate primary DNA damage and hsp70 gene expression. Food intake, weight gain, and motor activity were also evaluated.
Results:
An increase in primary DNA damage was detected in all cerebral areas of the exposed mice sacrificed at the end of exposure, as compared to controls. DNA damage, as can be evaluated by the comet assay, appeared to be repaired in mice sacrificed 24 h after a 7-day exposure. Neither a short (15 h) nor long (7 days) MF-exposure induced hsp70 expression, metabolic and behavioural changes.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that in vivo ELF-MF induce reversible brain DNA damage while they do not elicit the stress response.
Insights
Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) exposure caused reversible brain DNA damage in mice. However, ELF-MF did not trigger heat shock protein expression or behavioral changes, indicating no stress response.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Growing interest in the potential health effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF).
- Concerns regarding ELF-MF exposure and its possible links to cerebral cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if ELF-MF (50 Hz-1 mT) exposure causes DNA damage in the brain.
- To determine if ELF-MF exposure induces the expression of 70-kDa heat shock protein (hsp70).
Main Methods:
- CD1 mice were exposed to 50 Hz-1 mT magnetic fields for 1 or 7 days (15 h/day).
- Brain tissues (cerebral cortex-striatum, hippocampus, cerebellum) were analyzed for DNA damage and hsp70 gene expression.
- Control groups included unexposed and sham-exposed mice.
Main Results:
- Primary DNA damage was observed in all cerebral areas of exposed mice immediately after exposure.
- DNA damage was found to be repaired 24 hours after a 7-day exposure.
- No significant changes in hsp70 expression, food intake, weight gain, or motor activity were detected.
Conclusions:
- In vivo exposure to ELF-MF induces reversible DNA damage in the brain.
- ELF-MF exposure at the tested parameters does not elicit a cellular stress response (hsp70 induction) or behavioral changes.
