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Effects of extremely low frequency alternating-current magnetic fields on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activity of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

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Abstract

Extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF), as a ubiquitous ecophysiological factor, has been determined to influence the health of human and animals worldwide. In this study, we focused on the effects of ELF-MF on growth performance and digestive enzyme activity in juvenile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Totally 450 fish were exposed to ELF-MF (50 Hz; 0, 30, 100, 150 and 200 μT) for 30 days, respectively. The effects on growth and digestion were monitored on the 10th, 20th, and 30th day after induction (immediate effect), as well as 20th day after cessation of exposure (delayed effect). The activities of pepsin and intestinal protease of tilapia were significantly decreased after exposure in certain intensities of ELF-MF, but recovered when the ELF-MF exposure was removed 20 days later. Similar effects were also observed in the growth parameters, moreover interestingly, the specific growth rate (SGR) even represented a compensatory growth. To our knowledge, the present research provides the first determination that a certain extent of ELF-MF exposure could inhibit the growth and digestion of fish, and cause compensatory restorations after being removed upon a time.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (No. 20130142110016) and Science and Technology Project of SGCC (SG0860). The authors extend their gratitude to the China Electric Power Research Institute and Wuhan High Voltage Institute for the laboratory and experimental geomagnetic activity data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China

    Ying Li, Bixiao Ru, Wei Miao, Kai Zhang, Lili Han, Haijun Ni & Hongjuan Wu

  2. China Electric Power Research Institute, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China

    Xingfa Liu

Authors
  1. Ying Li
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  2. Bixiao Ru
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  3. Xingfa Liu
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  4. Wei Miao
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  5. Kai Zhang
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  6. Lili Han
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  7. Haijun Ni
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  8. Hongjuan Wu
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Correspondence to Hongjuan Wu.

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Li, Y., Ru, B., Liu, X. et al. Effects of extremely low frequency alternating-current magnetic fields on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activity of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus . Environ Biol Fish 98, 337–343 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0263-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0263-6

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