Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of electromagnetic fields
with divergent physical properties on the prooxidative and antioxidative balances in
homogenates of the tongue, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, and small and large
intestines of rats.
Material and Methods: Forty rats were randomly divided into four equal groups,
namely, a control group, a group exposed to low-frequency electromagnetic fields
(LF-EMFs; frequency: 50Hz; intensity: 10 kV/m; magnetic induction: 4.3 pT), a
group exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by mobile
phones (frequency: 900 MHz), and a group exposed simultaneously to LF-EMFs and
RF-EMFs emitted by mobile phones. After 28 consecutive days of the experiment,
the following pro- and antioxidative markers were assessed in the gastrointestinal
tract homogenates: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and its two isoenzymes (Mn-SOD,
Cu,Zn-SOD) catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR),
glutathione S-transferase (GST), total antioxidative capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA).
Results: In rats exposed to LF-EMFs, higher concentrations of the markers of
prooxidant processes, MDA or TOS, were observed in the salivary glands, esophagus,
and small intestine homogenates in comparison with the control group. Additionally,
in the group of rats opposite to the control, antioxidant activity was observed. The
main differences included a higher activity of Cu,Zn-SOD in homogenates of the
tongue, salivary glands, and esophagus as well as decreased activity of CAT in
homogenates of the tongue, esophagus, and small intestine. In animals exposed to
RF-EMFs, the concentration of TOS was higher in the large intestine than in control
rats. The main difference of antioxidant activity was presented by decreased Cu,Zn-SOD
in homogenates of the salivary glands, stomach, small and large intestine as well
as CAT in homogenates of the tongue, esophagus, stomach, and small and large
intestine. Moreover, in rats exposed simultaneously to LF-EMFs and RF-EMFs, a lower
concentration of TOS was observed. Antioxidant activity was presented by a decreased activity of CAT in homogenates of the tongue, esophagus, stomach, and small and large
intestine in comparison to the control group.
Conclusion: Among those applied in the study, electromagnetic fields of a
low-frequency caused the most significant disturbances of oxidative stress in the rat
gastrointestinal tract.
Keywords
oxidative stress | redox balance | electromagnetic fields | gastrointestinal tract | mobile phones