Exposure to static magnetic field of pregnant rats induces hepatic GSH elevation but not oxidative DNA damage in liver and kidney

BACKGROUND: The present investigation was designed to evaluate the effects of subacute exposure to static magnetic field (SMF) on some parameters indicative of oxidative stress and on oxidative DNA damage in pregnant rat. METHODS: Females rats (n = 6) were exposed to a SMF (128 mT; 1 h/day) from day 6 to day 19 of pregnancy and were allowed to deliver normally. The control group (n = 6) was not exposed to SMF. Dams were sacrificed 3 days after delivery. The effects of subacute exposure to SMF on oxidative states were assessed on the measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT). The level of 8-oxo-dG was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrochemical detection. RESULTS: Subacute exposure to SMF failed to alter plasma GPx, MDA, CAT and SOD respectively in liver and kidney. By contrast, SMF increased total GSH (+56%, p <0.05) and reduced GSH (+108%, p <0.05) in liver. Our results showed that the exposure to SMF did not induce oxidative DNA lesions in liver and kidney. CONCLUSIONS: The data do not provide evidence that subacute SMF exposure causes DNA damage in liver and kidney in pregnant rats. The present results suggest that hepatic GSH plays an important role in protection against SMF during pregnancy. These changes in antioxidant status (GSH) lead to some adaptive responses due to activation of systems controlling the body oxidative mechanism balance.