DEXA analysis on the bones of rats exposed in utero and neonatally to static and 50 Hz electric fields

• Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2006-10, Vol.27 (7), p.589-592
• Main Authors: Okudan, Berna, Keskin, Ali Ümit, Aydın, Mustafa Asım, Cesur, Gökhan, Çömlekçi, Selçuk, Süslü, Harun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Body Weight - radiation effects; Bone and Bones - embryology; Bone and Bones - radiation effects; Bone Density - radiation effects; bone mineral density; DEXA analysis; Electricity - adverse effects; Electromagnetic Fields - adverse effects; ELF; Female; intrauterine exposure; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; rat bones; Rats; static electric field
• ISSN: 0197-8462; 1521-186X
• DOI: 10.1002/bem.20237

Effects of the electromagnetic fields on living bodies, bones in particular, are among the relevant issues of contemporary life. In this study, we report the influences of 50 Hz and 0 Hz (static) electric fields (EF), on intact rat bones, as evaluated by dual energy X‐ray absorbtion (DEXA) measurements on bone content and density when these animals (n = 27) are continuously exposed in utero and neonatally to EFs (10 kV/m) 14 days before and 14 days after their birth, for 28 days in total. Differences between 50 Hz EF and static EF groups are found to be significant (95% confidence level) for total bone mineral content (BMC), TBMC (P = .002). Differences between 50 Hz and control groups are found to be significant for total bone mineral density (BMD), TBMD (P = .002), lumbar BMC, LBMC (P = .023), and TBMC (P = .001). Differences between static EF and control groups are found to be significant for femoral BMD, FBMD (P = .009), TBMD (P = .002), LBMC (P = .001), and TBMC (P = .001). Note that TBMC parameters are jointly significant for all differences between the three groups of test animals. These results have shown that both static and 50 Hz EFs influence the early development of rat bones. However, the influence of static EFs is more pronounced than that of the 50 Hz field. Bioelectromagnetics 27:589–592, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.