Safety of Exposure to 0.2 T and 4 Hz Rotating Magnetic Field: A Ten-Month Study on C57BL/6 Mice

TL;DR

This study found that long-term exposure to a 0.2 T, 4 Hz rotating magnetic field in mice did not cause harmful effects, suggesting it could be safe for potential clinical use.

Contribution

The study provides the first long-term safety assessment of 0.2 T, 4 Hz RMF exposure in mice over 10 months.

Findings

No significant adverse effects were observed in body weight, behavior, or organ health in mice exposed to RMF.

RMF exposure led to elevated IL-28 levels and minor lipid changes, but these were within normal ranges and not statistically significant.

The results indicate that 0.2 T, 4 Hz RMF is not associated with chronic toxicity in mice.

Abstract

Amidst the burgeoning interest in rotating magnetic fields (RMF) within biological research, there remains a notable gap in the scientific evidence concerning the long-term safety of RMF. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the safety of protracted exposure to a 0.2 T, 4 Hz RMF over 10 months in mice. Two-month-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated to either the RMF group (exposed to 0.2 T, 4 Hz real RMF) or the SHAM group (exposed to 0 T, 4 Hz sham RMF). Throughout the experiment, the murine weekly body weights were recorded, and their behavioral traits were assessed via open field tests. In the final month, a comprehensive evaluation of the murine overall health was conducted, encompassing analyses of blood parameters, histomorphological examination of major organs, and skeletal assessments using X-ray and micro-CT imaging. The murine immune system and lipid metabolism were evaluated through immunochip analysis and metabolomics. Notably, no discernible adverse effects with RMF exposure were observed. Murine body weight, locomotor behavior, organ histomorphology, and skeletal health remained unaffected by RMF. Blood analysis revealed subtle changes in hormone and lipid levels between the SHAM and RMF groups, yet these differences did not reach statistical significance. Moreover, RMF led to elevated serum interleukin-28 (IL-28) levels, albeit within the normal range, and modest alterations in serum lipid metabolites. Conclusively, mice exposed to the 0.2 T, 4 Hz RMF for 10 months displayed no significant signs of chronic toxicity, indicating its potential clinical application as a physical therapy.

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