Protein oxidation under extremely low frequency electric field in guinea pigs. Effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment.

Modern age exposes humans to an increasing level of electromagnetic activity in their environment due to overhead power lines and transformers around residential areas. Studies have shown that treatment with antioxidants can suppress the oxidative damage induced by electromagnetic fields in various frequencies of the non-ionizing radiation band. In this study, we detected protein carbonyl content (PCO), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in liver and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) levels in plasma of guinea pigs in order to investigate the effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) administration on oxidative protein damage induced by power frequency electric (E) field (50 Hz, 12 kV/m, 7 days/8 h/day). We also analyzed hepatic hydroxyproline level to study protein synthesis. According to the findings of the present study, no statistically significant changes occurred in PCO, AOPP and 3-NT levels of the guinea pigs that were exposed to the E field with respect to the control group. However, liver hydroxyproline level was significantly diminished in the E field exposure group compared to the control and PCO, hydroxyproline and 3-NT levels changed significantly in the NAC-administrated groups.