Intracellular Ca(2+) levels in rat ventricle cells exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic field

Electromagnetic fields can affect intracellular Ca(2+) levels. The aim of this study was to determine the changes intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in cardiac ventricle cells of rats exposed to 0.25 mT (2.5 Gauss) magnetic field.

Forty-five male rats were introduced to this study. The rats were divided into three groups: control, sham, and experiment. The experimental group was exposed to 0.25 mT extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field for 14 days, 3 h/day. The sham group was treated like the experimental group, except for elf-magnetic field exposure. The control group was not subjected to anything and differed from the experimental group and sham group. In the end of experiment, rats were sacrificed, cardiac tissue was removed, and these were fixed in 10% neutral formalin. Then, ventricular cells were stained by Alizarin red staining method.

In the light microscopic examinations of control groups, in myofibril structures between groups, changes were not observed. In myofibril regions of the experimental group compared to other groups, increased heterogen Ca(2+) accumulations were found.

ELF magnetic fields are used in daily life. The results of this study show that intracellular Ca(2+) accumulation in cardiac ventricles can increase in rats exposed to ELF magnetic field.