Brief Weekly Magnetic Field Exposure Enhances Avian Oxidative Muscle Character During Embryonic Development

Maternal metabolic dysfunction adversely influences embryonic muscle oxidative capacity and mitochondrial biogenesis, increasing the child's long-term risks of developing obesity and metabolic syndrome in later life. This pilot study explored the mechanistic basis of embryonic muscle metabolic programming, employing non-invasive magnetic field exposures. Brief (10 min) exposure to low-energy (1.5 milliTesla at 50 Hertz) pulsing electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) has been shown in mammals to promote oxidative muscle development, associated with enhanced muscular mitochondriogenesis, augmented lipid metabolism, and attenuated inflammatory status. In this study, quail eggs were used as a model system to investigate the potential of analogous PEMF therapy to modulate embryonic muscle oxidative capacity independently of maternal influence. Quail eggs were administered five 10-min PEMF exposures to either upward-directed or downward-directed magnetic fields over 13 days. Embryos receiving magnetic treatment exhibited increased embryo weight, size, and survival compared to non-exposed controls. Upward exposure was associated with larger embryos, redder breast musculature, and upregulated levels of PPAR-α and PGC-1α, transcriptional regulators promoting oxidative muscle development, mitochondriogenesis, and angiogenesis, whereas downward exposure augmented collagen levels and reduced angiogenesis. Exposure to upward PEMFs may hence serve as a method to promote embryonic growth and oxidative muscle development and improve embryonic mortality.