Melatonin and N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone Block 60-Hz Magnetic Field-Induced DNA Single and Double Strand Breaks in Rat Brain Cells

H Lai, N P Singh

J Pineal Res. 1997 Apr;22(3):152-62.

PMID: 9213269

Abstract:

In previous research, we have found an increase in DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells of rats after acute exposure (two hours) to a sinusoidal 60-Hz magnetic field. The present experiment was carried out to investigate whether treatment with melatonin and the spin-trap compound N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) could block the effect of magnetic fields on brain cell DNA. Rats were injected with melatonin (1 mg/kg, sc) or PBN (100 mg/kg, ip) immediately before and after two hours of exposure to a 60-Hz magnetic field at an intensity of 0.5 mT. We found that both drug treatments blocked the magnetic field-induced DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells, as assayed by a microgel electrophoresis method. Since melatonin and PBN are efficient free radical scavengers, these data suggest that free radicals may play a role in magnetic field-induced DNA damage.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP3376247	N-tert-Butyl-α-phenylnitrone		3376-24-7	Price