Effects of rotating electric fields on liver biopolymers: an experimental study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: According to the classic works of H. Selye, a variety of factors can impact humans and trigger a complex bodily response known as a stress reaction. This can lead to an imbalance in the body's regulatory physiological systems. AIM: To investigate the effects of a technogenic rotating electric field (REF) on the levels of carbohydrate-containing liver biopolymers in experimental animals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 54 rats were used in the experiment. The levels of sialic acids, mucoproteins, fucose, and -L-fucosidase were measured in the liver homogenate before the study, on the 10th and 20th day of the experiment. To ensure accurate results, the rats were first diagnosed using the open field method to determine their stress resistance levels. Based on the results, the rats were then divided into three groups: stress-resistant, stress-unstable, and ambivalent. RESULTS: By the 10th day of REF exposure, an increase in all the studied parameters in the liver homogenate in rats was observed indicating catabolic processes. Sialic acids concentration in stress-resistant, unstable and ambivalent rats increased by 14% (p=0.024), 29% (p=0.020) and 26% (p=0.021), respectively. Corresponding elevations of fucose concentration were 24% (p=0.019), 27% (p=0.019), 31% (p=0.019) while the activity of -L-fucosidase increased by 55% (p=0.024), in 63% (p=0.024) and 55% (p=0.011) in the abovementioned categories of rates. Mucoproteins concentrations increased by 58% (p=0.011) in stress-resistant, 76% (p=0.011) in stress-unstable and 65% (p=0.021) in stress-ambivalent rats. By the 20th day of the experiment, decomposition of carbohydrate-containing biopolymers slowed in all groups. When compared with the 10th day 10, sialic acids concentration decreased in stress resistant, unstable and ambivalent rats by 12% (p=0.041), 17% (p=0.021) and 20% (p=0.011), respectively. Corresponding decrease in of mucoproteins was 26% (p=0.011), 33% (p=0.024), and 32% (p=0.024). Fucose concentration increased by 34% (p=0.024) in stress-resistant, by 22% (p=0.024) in stress-unstable and by 28% (p=0.010) in stress-ambivalent rats. Correspondingly, -L-fucosidase activity increased by 15% (p=0.021), 46% (p=0.02) and 31% (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: The study's findings indicate that technogenic REF can alter the levels of carbohydrate-containing biopolymers in animal livers, leading to the activation of catabolic processes. The group of stress-unstable individuals exhibited the most significant catabolic processes. Our results may have implications for occupations exposures to REF.