Effects of electromagnetic pulses on the heart and liver of rat and subsequent self-recovery

The influences of W-EMP (Wide-band electromagnetic pulse) exposure (field strength: 110 kV/m or 140 kV/m, pulse number: 5 or 100, pulse leading edge width: 20 ns, and the pulse width: 200 ns) on the liver and heart tissue of male rat, as well as subsequent recovery behavior, were investigated. At 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, and 10 d separately from after-exposure, samples were collected for following assays to characterize the early damage and self-recovery of tissues: serum biochemical indexes (ALT and AST) related to heart and liver were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer, and the content of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2) in both liver and heart was measured by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa). The results showed that significantly decreased levels of serum biochemical indicators (ALT and AST) and elevated apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2) (p < 0.05) in liver were detected at 6 h of after-exposure, and recovered to Sham level 1 d (ALT, AST, Bax) and 7 d (Bcl-2) later, which implied that the liver of rat was early damaged by W-EMP exposure and subsequently activated the self-recovery response. However, no significant changes were induced by the W-EMP in the heart tissues, so no self-recovery behavior was available for observation. (authors)