Long-Term Study on the Effects of Housing C57BL/6NCrl Mice in Cages Equipped With Wireless Technology Generating Extremely Low-Intensity Electromagnetic Fields.

Abstract

The recent development of mouse cages equipped with monitoring wireless technology raised questions on the potential effects on animals induced by electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by electronic boards positioned underneath the cages. The aims of this study were to characterize the EMF produced by digitally ventilated cages (DVC) and perform a clinicopathological study on mice maintained in DVC for up to 1 year. The EMFs were measured in empty individually ventilated cages (IVC) and DVC. Male (n = 160) and female (n = 160) C57BL/6NCrl mice were randomly housed in IVC and DVC in a single rack, 4 mice per cage. Body weight and food and water consumption were recorded at 14-day intervals. At sacrifice (days 60, 120, 180, and 365), body and testes weight was measured, and necropsy, hematology, bone marrow cytology, histology, and immunohistochemistry for cleaved-caspase 3 on the testes were performed. Digitally ventilated cages produced extremely low-intensity electric fields ranging from 5 Hz to 3 GHz. No exposure-related clinical signs and mortality occurred. Occasional statistical differences in body weight, food and water consumption, hematology, bone marrow, and histopathology were recorded, but considered without biological or clinical relevance. In conclusion, long-term maintenance in DVC had no definite effects on C57BL/6NCrl mice.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Digitally ventilated cages produced extremely low-intensity electric fields ranging from 5 Hz to 3 GHz. Over up to 1 year of housing, no exposure-related clinical signs or mortality occurred; occasional statistical differences in measured endpoints were reported but considered without biological or clinical relevance, and the authors concluded there were no definite effects.

Outcomes measured

• EMF characterization (electric fields)
• clinical signs
• mortality
• body weight
• food consumption
• water consumption
• testes weight
• necropsy findings
• hematology
• bone marrow cytology
• histology
• testes immunohistochemistry (cleaved-caspase 3)

Limitations

• Exposure intensity described as 'extremely low-intensity' without quantitative field strength values in the abstract
• Frequency range spans 5 Hz to 3 GHz, but specific exposure metrics by location/condition are not provided in the abstract
• Occasional statistically significant differences were observed, though deemed not clinically relevant (details not provided in abstract)

Suggested hubs

• animal-studies (0.86)
  Long-term clinicopathological study in mice exposed to EMFs from wireless cage technology.
• exposure-assessment (0.55)
  Study includes characterization/measurement of EMFs produced by the cage system.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF to RF",
        "source": "wireless technology in digitally ventilated mouse cages (electronic boards underneath cages)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "up to 1 year"
    },
    "population": "C57BL/6NCrl mice (male and female)",
    "sample_size": 320,
    "outcomes": [
        "EMF characterization (electric fields)",
        "clinical signs",
        "mortality",
        "body weight",
        "food consumption",
        "water consumption",
        "testes weight",
        "necropsy findings",
        "hematology",
        "bone marrow cytology",
        "histology",
        "testes immunohistochemistry (cleaved-caspase 3)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Digitally ventilated cages produced extremely low-intensity electric fields ranging from 5 Hz to 3 GHz. Over up to 1 year of housing, no exposure-related clinical signs or mortality occurred; occasional statistical differences in measured endpoints were reported but considered without biological or clinical relevance, and the authors concluded there were no definite effects.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure intensity described as 'extremely low-intensity' without quantitative field strength values in the abstract",
        "Frequency range spans 5 Hz to 3 GHz, but specific exposure metrics by location/condition are not provided in the abstract",
        "Occasional statistically significant differences were observed, though deemed not clinically relevant (details not provided in abstract)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "digitally ventilated cages",
        "individually ventilated cages",
        "wireless technology",
        "electric fields",
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "C57BL/6NCrl",
        "long-term exposure",
        "toxicologic pathology",
        "testes",
        "cleaved-caspase 3"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "animal-studies",
            "weight": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
            "reason": "Long-term clinicopathological study in mice exposed to EMFs from wireless cage technology."
        },
        {
            "slug": "exposure-assessment",
            "weight": 0.5500000000000000444089209850062616169452667236328125,
            "reason": "Study includes characterization/measurement of EMFs produced by the cage system."
        }
    ]
}

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