OBJECTIVE:

To study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on apoptosis and cell cycle of mouse brain and liver cells.

METHODS:

Mice were exposed to 50 Hz, 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT electromagnetic fields for 2 weeks. TUNEL and flow cytometric methods were used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle of brain and liver cells.

RESULTS:

After exposure to 0.2 mT and 6.0 mT ELF EMFs for 2 weeks, apoptosis rates of brain cells [(5.60 +/- 1.47)% and (4.73 +/- 0.48)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(2.90 +/- 0.75)%], and apoptosis rates of liver cells [(4.19 +/- 2.08)% and (3.38 +/- 0.65)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(1.84 +/- 0.76)%]. G0/G1 cell percentage of brain cells [(80.21 +/- 1.68)% and (79.54 +/- 0.56)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(76.85 +/- 0.83)%], and those of liver cells [(79.42 +/- 1.80)% and (80.47 +/- 1.79)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(73.36 +/- 3.10)%]. The above differences were all statistically significant as P < 0.05. At the same time S and G2 + M cell percentage of brain and liver cells were significantly decreased.

CONCLUSION:

Exposure to 50 Hz EMFs may alter cell cycle and induce apoptosis of mouse brain and liver cells.