Autism-relevant social abnormalities in mice exposed perinatally to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields.

Abstract

The incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been rising, but the causes of ASD remain largely unidentified. Collective data have implicated the increased human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the increasing incidence of ASD. There are established biological effects of extremely low-frequency (ELF) EMF, but the relation to ASD is not investigated enough. In this study we examined the effects of perinatal exposure to ELF EMF on some ASD-relevant behavioral parameters in mice. The EMF was delivered via a Helmholtz coil pair. Male BALB/C mice were used and divided into exposed and control groups (n=8 and n=9, respectively). Tests were used to assess sociability, preference for social novelty, locomotion, anxiety, exploratory behavior, motor coordination, and olfaction. The examined mice were all males and exposed to EMF during the last week of gestation and for 7 days after delivery. The exposed mice demonstrated a lack of normal sociability and preference for social novelty while maintaining normal anxiety-like behavior, locomotion, motor coordination, and olfaction. Exposed mice also demonstrated decreased exploratory activity. We concluded that these results are supportive of the hypothesis of a causal link between exposure to ELF-EMF and ASD; however, replications of the study with further tests are recommended.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Male mice exposed perinatally to ELF-EMF showed lack of normal sociability and reduced preference for social novelty, with decreased exploratory activity. Anxiety-like behavior, locomotion, motor coordination, and olfaction were reported as normal in exposed mice compared with controls.

Outcomes measured

• Sociability
• Preference for social novelty
• Locomotion
• Anxiety-like behavior
• Exploratory behavior/activity
• Motor coordination
• Olfaction

Limitations

• Small sample size (n=8 exposed; n=9 control)
• Only male mice studied
• Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not provided in the abstract
• Authors note that replication with further tests is recommended

Suggested hubs

• elf-emf (0.9)
  Study examines perinatal exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in mice.

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        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Perinatal exposure during the last week of gestation and for 7 days after delivery"
    },
    "population": "Male BALB/C mice (perinatal exposure)",
    "sample_size": 17,
    "outcomes": [
        "Sociability",
        "Preference for social novelty",
        "Locomotion",
        "Anxiety-like behavior",
        "Exploratory behavior/activity",
        "Motor coordination",
        "Olfaction"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Male mice exposed perinatally to ELF-EMF showed lack of normal sociability and reduced preference for social novelty, with decreased exploratory activity. Anxiety-like behavior, locomotion, motor coordination, and olfaction were reported as normal in exposed mice compared with controls.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Small sample size (n=8 exposed; n=9 control)",
        "Only male mice studied",
        "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not provided in the abstract",
        "Authors note that replication with further tests is recommended"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "autism spectrum disorders",
        "ASD-relevant behavior",
        "perinatal exposure",
        "extremely low frequency",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "mice",
        "sociability",
        "social novelty",
        "exploratory activity",
        "Helmholtz coil"
    ],
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