An extremely low frequency-weak magnetic field can induce alterations in a biological system: A case study in chick embryo development

Publication date: Available online 23 October 2018Source: Progress in Biophysics and Molecular BiologyAuthor(s): Ahmed El-Hussein, M.A. Kasem, Abd El Hakim Saad, Michael R. Hamblin, M. HarithAbstractThe aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of a weak magnetic field at extremely low frequency on a biological system. Our case study was on chick embryo development. Freshly fertilized chicken eggs were subjected to magnetic field (1.0 μT peak-to-peak amplitude) for 48 hours immediately after laying. Following exposure, eggs were incubated for more 9 days without any magnetic stimuli. The exposed embryos show developmental anomalies compared with sham–exposed controls. Histopathological features were identified in slides prepared from chick embryos using optical microscopy. Electron microscopic imaging was employed to investigate apoptosis distribution (or programmed cell death). Moreover, levels of circulating cytokines (mainly IL-2 and INF-γ) were investigated in the exposed and sham embryos. Results revealed that exposure to a weak magnetic field can provoke irreparable developmental abnormalities.
Source: Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research