Monitoring of DNA damage in mice exposed to 50 HZ electromagnetic field and the antimutagenic potential of ellagic acid

ABSTRACT

It is widely accepted that moderate levels of non-ionizing electric or magnetic fields of about I mT are not clastogenic or mutagenic. To be sure, the mutagenic effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields [EMF] on testicular and brain cells were studied. Also, the present study evaluated the protective effects of ellagic acid on these mutagenic effects. Sixty adult male mice were divided into six groups, each containing 10-mice. The first one served as control group. The second group was given orally 6mg/kg ellagic acid only. While, the third and fourth groups were exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic field for 6 andl2hours respectively. The fifth and six groups were given orally 6 mg/kg ellagic acid together with exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic field for 6 and l2 hours respectively. The alkaline Comet assay and DNA laddering electrophoresis were used to detect the percentage of DNA damage and the tail length. All photographs from each group showing the DNA damage were taken by the same magnification and scanned onto computer diskette. DNA tailing length from each photograph was measured by CorelDraw program [version 6]. The present study compared the percentage of DNA damage and the tail length between different groups. The intensity of DNA bands was measured by gel-pro program. A higher percentage of DNA damage was found in brain cells more than testicular cells, in 12 hours more than 6 hours and in groups exposed to electromagnetic field alone than those exposed to ellagic acid in combination with electromagnetic field. Moreover, this study revealed a significant increase in tailing length between groups exposed to electromagnetic fields [6 and12 h] and control group. Also, there was a significant increase between groups exposed to electromagnetic fields l2 hours and those exposed 6 hours. There was a difference in the percentage of the intensity of the DNA bands between exposed groups and control group, which improved greatly by < ellagic acid >. However, there was a significant difference between groups exposed to electromagnetic fields in combination with ellagic acid and those exposed to electromagnetic fields only. As, administration of antioxidant < ellagic acid > inhibited the DNA damage produced in mice testis and brain upon exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. So, The present study suggested that antioxidant < ellagic acid > that is present in many natural foods must be taken as a protective measurement against DNA damage produced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields