The effects of prenatal and neonatal exposure to electromagnetic fields on infant rat myocardium.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Electromagnetic fields (EMF) have adverse effects as a result of widespread use of electromagnetic energy on biological systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to EMF on rat myocardium by biochemical and histopathological evaluations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 10 pregnant Wistar rats were used. Half of the pregnant rats were exposed to EMF of 3 mT, and the other half to sham conditions during gestation. After parturition, rat pups in the 5 EMF-exposed litters from birth until postnatal day 20 were exposed to EMF of 3 mT for 4 h/day (EMF-exposed group, n = 30). Rat pups in sham litters from birth until postnatal day 20 were exposed to sham conditions (sham group, n= 20). RESULTS: In the EMF-exposed group, lipid peroxidation levels significantly increased compared to sham. Superoxide dismutase activities decreased significantly in the EMF-exposed group compared to sham. TUNEL staining showed that the number of TUNEL-positive cells increased significantly in EMF-exposed rats compared with sham. Under electron microscopy, there were mitochondrial degeneration, reduction in myofibrils, dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum and perinuclear vacuolization in EMF-exposed rats. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the results show that prenatal exposure to EMF causes oxidative stress, apoptosis and morphological pathology in myocardium of rat pups. The results of our study indicate a probable role of free radicals in the adverse effects of prenatal exposure to EMF. Further studies are needed to demonstrate whether the EMF exposure can induce adverse effects on the myocardium.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Compared with sham, pups in the EMF-exposed group had significantly increased lipid peroxidation, significantly decreased superoxide dismutase activity, and significantly more TUNEL-positive cells. Electron microscopy showed mitochondrial degeneration, reduced myofibrils, dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum, and perinuclear vacuolization in EMF-exposed rats.

Outcomes measured

• Lipid peroxidation levels
• Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity
• Apoptosis (TUNEL-positive cells)
• Myocardial ultrastructure/histopathology (electron microscopy findings)

Limitations

• Frequency of the EMF exposure not reported in the abstract
• Exposure source/device not described in the abstract
• Prenatal and postnatal exposures were both applied in the EMF group, limiting isolation of prenatal-only effects
• Small number of pregnant dams (10 total)

Suggested hubs

• animal-studies (0.9)
  Experimental EMF exposure study in pregnant rats and pups assessing myocardial outcomes.

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        "duration": "Gestation exposure (pregnant rats); then pups exposed from birth to postnatal day 20 for 4 h/day"
    },
    "population": "Pregnant Wistar rats and their pups (rat myocardium assessed in pups)",
    "sample_size": 50,
    "outcomes": [
        "Lipid peroxidation levels",
        "Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity",
        "Apoptosis (TUNEL-positive cells)",
        "Myocardial ultrastructure/histopathology (electron microscopy findings)"
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    "main_findings": "Compared with sham, pups in the EMF-exposed group had significantly increased lipid peroxidation, significantly decreased superoxide dismutase activity, and significantly more TUNEL-positive cells. Electron microscopy showed mitochondrial degeneration, reduced myofibrils, dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum, and perinuclear vacuolization in EMF-exposed rats.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Frequency of the EMF exposure not reported in the abstract",
        "Exposure source/device not described in the abstract",
        "Prenatal and postnatal exposures were both applied in the EMF group, limiting isolation of prenatal-only effects",
        "Small number of pregnant dams (10 total)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "prenatal exposure",
        "neonatal exposure",
        "3 mT",
        "myocardium",
        "rat pups",
        "oxidative stress",
        "lipid peroxidation",
        "superoxide dismutase",
        "apoptosis",
        "TUNEL",
        "electron microscopy"
    ],
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}

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