Histopathological and epigenetic alterations in the spinal cord due to prenatal electromagnetic field exposure: An H3K27me3-related mechanism

Abstract

Histopathological and epigenetic alterations in the spinal cord due to prenatal electromagnetic field exposure: An H3K27me3-related mechanism Ayşe İkinci Keleş, Burcu Biterge Süt. Histopathological and epigenetic alterations in the spinal cord due to prenatal electromagnetic field exposure: An H3K27me3-related mechanism. Toxicol Ind Health. 2021 Feb 23. doi: 10.1177/0748233721996947. Abstract Neural system development is one of the most important stages of embryogenesis. Perturbations in this crucial process due to genetic and environmental risk factors cause neural tube defects and other central nervous system diseases. We investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to 900-MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) on the spinal cord. Pregnant rats were exposed to 900-MHz EMF for 1 h/day from E13.5 until birth. Six pups from the control and EMF groups were sacrificed at postnatal day 32, and the upper thoracic region of the spine was removed and processed for histological procedures. For histopathological analyses, hematoxylin&eosin staining and, for stereological analyses and the quantitation of motor neurons, cresyl violet staining was performed. H3K27me3 levels were determined via immunofluorescence staining. Histopathological analysis identified structural alterations of ependymal cells, enlarged central canals, as well as degenerated and shrunken motor neurons in the EMF group, while the control group tissues had normal appearances. We also observed enrichment of H3K27me3 in the ependymal cells and the motor neurons in the spinal cord of the control group rats, while the EMF group had low levels of H3K27me3 staining. Our results suggest that the loss of H3K27me3 signals might correlate with reduced neuronal stem cell potential in the EMF group and result in anatomical and structural differences in the spinal cord. This study provided a comprehensive histopathological analysis of the spinal cord after prenatal EMF exposure and offered an H3K27me3-dependent molecular explanation for the detrimental effects of EMF exposure on the spine. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Compared with controls, the prenatal 900-MHz EMF group showed structural alterations of ependymal cells, enlarged central canals, and degenerated/shrunken motor neurons in the spinal cord. H3K27me3 immunofluorescence staining was reported as low in the EMF group versus enrichment in ependymal cells and motor neurons in controls.

Outcomes measured

• Spinal cord histopathology (ependymal cell structure, central canal size, motor neuron degeneration/shrinkage)
• Motor neuron quantitation (stereological analysis)
• H3K27me3 levels in spinal cord (immunofluorescence staining)

Limitations

• Exposure source and dosimetry details (e.g., SAR) not reported in the abstract
• Small sample size (six pups per group)
• Only one frequency and one exposure schedule assessed
• Outcomes assessed at a single postnatal time point (postnatal day 32)

Suggested hubs

• rf-animal-studies (0.9)
  Animal study assessing prenatal 900-MHz RF-EMF effects on spinal cord histology and epigenetic marker H3K27me3.

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        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "1 h/day from embryonic day 13.5 until birth (prenatal exposure)"
    },
    "population": "Pregnant rats and offspring (pups assessed postnatally)",
    "sample_size": 12,
    "outcomes": [
        "Spinal cord histopathology (ependymal cell structure, central canal size, motor neuron degeneration/shrinkage)",
        "Motor neuron quantitation (stereological analysis)",
        "H3K27me3 levels in spinal cord (immunofluorescence staining)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Compared with controls, the prenatal 900-MHz EMF group showed structural alterations of ependymal cells, enlarged central canals, and degenerated/shrunken motor neurons in the spinal cord. H3K27me3 immunofluorescence staining was reported as low in the EMF group versus enrichment in ependymal cells and motor neurons in controls.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure source and dosimetry details (e.g., SAR) not reported in the abstract",
        "Small sample size (six pups per group)",
        "Only one frequency and one exposure schedule assessed",
        "Outcomes assessed at a single postnatal time point (postnatal day 32)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "prenatal exposure",
        "900 MHz",
        "RF-EMF",
        "spinal cord",
        "histopathology",
        "motor neurons",
        "ependymal cells",
        "central canal",
        "H3K27me3",
        "epigenetic alterations",
        "rat"
    ],
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}

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