133
Static, Low-Frequency, and Pulsed Magnetic Fields
Peric-Mataruga et al. (2008) investigated the effects of an SMF of 320 mT on the pupae
of yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor. The values of morphometric parameters of neurosecretory neurons and corpora allata were significantly increased after SMF exposure.
The SMF influenced characteristics of protocerebral neurosecretory neurons and corpora allata in the late T. molitor pupae.
Saito, Suzuki, and Suzuki (2006) reported that an acute SMF exposure of 400 mT
had teratogenic effects on developing fetuses. Fetuses were exposed to the SMF in utero
for 6 minutes for 1 day from 7.5 to 14.5 days of pregnancy. Various types of malformations were observed, including polydactylism, abdominal fissure, fused rib, vestigial
thirteenth rib, lumbar rib, brain hernia, and curled tail, whereas only a low incidence
(≤2.8%) of curled tail was detected in the control group. These deformations were apparently caused by SMF exposure, but the effects did not reflect the so-called exposure
period specificity.
Monfared, Jorsaraei, and Abdi (2009) investigated the protective effects of vitamins
E and C against 1.5-T SMF in MRI on spermatogenesis parameters. Results showed that
compared with sham exposure SMF could reduce germ cell count and sperm duct diameter; although vitamins C and E could modify the reduction in germ cell count, they did
not show any protective effect on sperm duct diameter reduction. The authors conclude
that the protective effects of vitamins C and E are different and depend on the type of
effects. It seems that the modifying effects of vitamins are additive, but vitamin E plays
a more important role than vitamin C against the SMF on spermatogenesis parameters
in clinical MRI.
Eguchi et al. (2006) examined cleavage and survival of Xenopus embryos exposed to
8-T SMF. The authors investigated fertilized Xenopus embryos exposed to SMF both
in a static chamber and in a rotating culture system. The results of these investigations
showed that the strong SMF changed the third cleavage furrow from the usual horizontal one to a perpendicular one. However, when the direction of gravity was randomized
by exposing the embryos to SMF in a rotating culture system the third cleavage furrow
was formed horizontally; this finding suggested that the observed distortion of the third
cleavage furrow in SMF-exposed embryos was accomplished by altering gravity effects,
which were elicited by diamagnetic force due to a high-gradient magnetic field. The
results also showed that the SMF did not damage survival. The findings of the investigation are that SMF and altering gravity cause distortion of the third cleavage furrow and
that the effects of exposing cleavage embryos to SMF were transient and did not affect
postcleavage development. The authors also suggest that strong SMF is not hazardous to
the cleavage and blastula–gastrula transition of developing embryonic cells.
Gonet, Kosik-Bogacka, and Kuźna-Grygiel (2009) investigated the effects of an ELFEMF (50 Hz, 2.0 mT) on the oviposition and development of Drosophila melanogaster.
The results showed that ELF-EMF exposure of D. melanogaster females of generation
P and all the development stages of generation F1 weakened the oviposition of these
insects in their subsequent generations.
Goodman et al. (2009) examined the effects of an ELF-EMF (60 Hz, 8 μT, 1 hour
twice daily for 15 days) on the regeneration of the planaria Dugesia dorotocephala. The
ELF-EMF exposure during the initial 3 days postsurgery caused a significant increase
Static, Low-Frequency, and Pulsed Magnetic Fields
Peric-Mataruga et al. (2008) investigated the effects of an SMF of 320 mT on the pupae
of yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor. The values of morphometric parameters of neurosecretory neurons and corpora allata were significantly increased after SMF exposure.
The SMF influenced characteristics of protocerebral neurosecretory neurons and corpora allata in the late T. molitor pupae.
Saito, Suzuki, and Suzuki (2006) reported that an acute SMF exposure of 400 mT
had teratogenic effects on developing fetuses. Fetuses were exposed to the SMF in utero
for 6 minutes for 1 day from 7.5 to 14.5 days of pregnancy. Various types of malformations were observed, including polydactylism, abdominal fissure, fused rib, vestigial
thirteenth rib, lumbar rib, brain hernia, and curled tail, whereas only a low incidence
(≤2.8%) of curled tail was detected in the control group. These deformations were apparently caused by SMF exposure, but the effects did not reflect the so-called exposure
period specificity.
Monfared, Jorsaraei, and Abdi (2009) investigated the protective effects of vitamins
E and C against 1.5-T SMF in MRI on spermatogenesis parameters. Results showed that
compared with sham exposure SMF could reduce germ cell count and sperm duct diameter; although vitamins C and E could modify the reduction in germ cell count, they did
not show any protective effect on sperm duct diameter reduction. The authors conclude
that the protective effects of vitamins C and E are different and depend on the type of
effects. It seems that the modifying effects of vitamins are additive, but vitamin E plays
a more important role than vitamin C against the SMF on spermatogenesis parameters
in clinical MRI.
Eguchi et al. (2006) examined cleavage and survival of Xenopus embryos exposed to
8-T SMF. The authors investigated fertilized Xenopus embryos exposed to SMF both
in a static chamber and in a rotating culture system. The results of these investigations
showed that the strong SMF changed the third cleavage furrow from the usual horizontal one to a perpendicular one. However, when the direction of gravity was randomized
by exposing the embryos to SMF in a rotating culture system the third cleavage furrow
was formed horizontally; this finding suggested that the observed distortion of the third
cleavage furrow in SMF-exposed embryos was accomplished by altering gravity effects,
which were elicited by diamagnetic force due to a high-gradient magnetic field. The
results also showed that the SMF did not damage survival. The findings of the investigation are that SMF and altering gravity cause distortion of the third cleavage furrow and
that the effects of exposing cleavage embryos to SMF were transient and did not affect
postcleavage development. The authors also suggest that strong SMF is not hazardous to
the cleavage and blastula–gastrula transition of developing embryonic cells.
Gonet, Kosik-Bogacka, and Kuźna-Grygiel (2009) investigated the effects of an ELFEMF (50 Hz, 2.0 mT) on the oviposition and development of Drosophila melanogaster.
The results showed that ELF-EMF exposure of D. melanogaster females of generation
P and all the development stages of generation F1 weakened the oviposition of these
insects in their subsequent generations.
Goodman et al. (2009) examined the effects of an ELF-EMF (60 Hz, 8 μT, 1 hour
twice daily for 15 days) on the regeneration of the planaria Dugesia dorotocephala. The
ELF-EMF exposure during the initial 3 days postsurgery caused a significant increase