Can static electric fields increase the activity of nitric oxide synthase and induce oxidative stress and damage of spleen?

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2022, Vol.29 (3), p.4093-4100
• Main Authors: Dong, Li, Xiang, Junli, Guo, Jingyi, Chen, Guangdi, Di, Guoqing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Calcineurin; Cristae; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Electric fields; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Gene expression; Inflammation; Lymphocytes; Membranes; Mice; Mitochondria; mitochondrial membrane; necrosis; neoplasms; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-κB protein; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - metabolism; Nitric-oxide synthase; nuclear membrane; Oxidative Stress; Public concern; Research Article; Spleen; Spleen - metabolism; Static Electricity - adverse effects; Superoxide dismutase; Transmission lines; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15853-8

With the rapid development of ultra-high-voltage (UHV) direct-current (DC) transmissions, the impact of static electric fields (SEF) in the vicinity of overhead UHV DC transmission lines on health has aroused much public concern. This study explored the effects of 56.3kV/m SEF on the spleen of mice. Results showed that SEF exposure of 21days significantly increased malonic dialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase activity, calcineurin activity, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, and the mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the spleen and caused the separation of nucleus and nuclear membrane, the disappearance of mitochondrial membrane, and the deficiency of mitochondrial cristae in splenic lymphocytes. By analysis and discussion, it was deduced that SEF could induce oxidative stress of the spleen by increasing the activity of NOS. Oxidative stress could further cause ultrastructural changes of splenic lymphocytes. Moreover, oxidative stress could cause the increase of the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α and NF-κB, which contributed to the occurrence of spleen inflammation.