Investigating Bio-interface Effects of Chronic ELF-MF Exposure before and after Neonatal Life on Rat Offspring Using Spectroscopy and Biochemical Assays

Abstract

Electromagnetic (EM) energy that generates extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) impacts all living organisms' biological systems. To investigate the chronic impact of ELF-MF (50 Hz) we designed an externally applied electric field exposure to rat offspring during intrauterine and after extrauterine life. A total of 18 rat offsprings blood serum was analyzed via biochemical assays and ATR-FTIR (400 to 4000 cm-1) analysis. The changes in the samples' total antioxidants (TAS) and total oxidants level (TOS) were measured, and we calculated oxidative stress index (OSI) and TNF-α level in serum samples. To attribute diseases, chemometric models were validated using PCA-SVD analysis. Proteins, including the amide I (1631 cm−1), exhibit the strongest bands in the spectra depending on the secondary structure of the protein, and there was a degradation of lipids as a result of lipid peroxidation; also a significant increase in the lipid to protein ratio was concluded from the analysis (p<0.001). Finally, EMF exposure statistically significantly interferes with lipids, protein, and DNA/RNA molecules. Our findings demonstrate that chronic EMF exposure is an environmental factor affecting blood serum parameters and could impair oxidant-antioxidant function, increase lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress depending on the continuity of ELF-MF exposure.