The Long-term Exposure to 50 Hz Extremely Low Frequency Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Does not Alter the Electrocardiographic Parameters of Rats

ELF-PEMF effects on ECG parameters of rats

Abstract

Abstract

Background: The heart is a contractile organ with the ability to generate its own signals. Because of the excitable nature of heart cells, they may be impacted by external impulses or stimuli. The purpose of this research is to use electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements to ascertain the effects of exposure to an extremely low frequency pulsed magnetic field (ELF-PEMF) at 1 milli Tesla (mT) and 5 mT intensity on the heart's electrical stimulation system. Materials and Methods:  Eighteen Wistar Albino rats, weighing 200-250g and aged 8 weeks, were randomly allocated into three groups, with six rats in each group: sham, 1 milli Tesla (1 mT), and 5 mT exposure groups. Rats were subjected to ELF-PEMF for 4-hours each day, 5-days per week for 8-weeks. The rats in the sham group were held in same condition, but the exposure system was turned off. Results: According to the findings, ELF-PEMF exposure at 1 mT and 5 mT intensities had no influence on ECG parameters commonly used in the evaluation of cardiac rhythmic activity, such as heart rate, P wave amplitude, PR interval, QRS interval, R amplitude, and QT interval. Conclusion: The 8-week exposure to ELF-PEMF at the 1 mT and 5 mT intensities didn’t show any effect on ECG parameters in rats, at least according to the design applied in this study. The effects of these magnetic fields are also directly related to exposure durations and intensity. Therefore, more research is required to ascertain how varied application intensities and durations affect cardiac function.

Keywords: Heart function; Electrocardiogram (ECG); Extremely Low Frequency Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-PEMF)