Subchronic Effects on Leukocyte-endothelial Interactions in Mice by Whole Body Exposure to Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields

Abstract

In the present study, we measured and quantified changes in leukocyte behavior in the subcutaneous microcirculation in vivo and examined serum cytokine levels in vitro while mice were exposed to continuous 50 Hz electromagnetic fields for 17 days. Mice were exposed to 50 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields at magnetic densities of 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mT. The intramicrovascular behavior of leukocytes was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy using a dorsal skinfold chamber technique. Significantly increased endothelial-adhering leukocytes were observed only in the 3.0 mT exposure group, but no changes were detected in serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels. Subsequently, long-term continuous whole body exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields elicited leukocyte-endothelium interactions, however, this effect does not appear to be controlled by cytokine levels.