Effects of 4G Long-Term Evolution Electromagnetic Fields on Thyroid Hormone Dysfunction and

Abstract

Effects of 4G Long-Term Evolution Electromagnetic Fields on Thyroid Hormone Dysfunction and Behavioral Changes in Adolescent Male Mice Kim HY, Son Y, Jeong YJ, Lee SH, Kim N, Ahn YH, Jeon SB, Choi HD, Lee HJ. Effects of 4G Long-Term Evolution Electromagnetic Fields on Thyroid Hormone Dysfunction and Behavioral Changes in Adolescent Male Mice. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Oct 10;25(20):10875. doi: 10.3390/ijms252010875. Abstract Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) can penetrate tissues and potentially influence endocrine and brain development. Despite increased mobile phone use among children and adolescents, the long-term effects of RF-EMF exposure on brain and endocrine development remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of long-term evolution band (LTE) EMF exposure on thyroid hormone levels, crucial for metabolism, growth, and development. Four-week-old male mice (C57BL/6) were exposed to LTE EMF (whole-body average specific absorption rate [SAR] 4 W/kg) or a positive control (lead; Pb, 300 ppm in drinking water) for 4 weeks. Subsequently, the mice underwent behavioral tests including open field, marble burying, and nest building. Blood pituitary and thyroid hormone levels, and thyroid hormone-regulating genes within the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were analyzed. LTE exposure increased T3 levels, while Pb exposure elevated T3 and T4 and decreased ACTH levels. The LTE EMF group showed no gene expression alterations in the thyroid and pituitary glands, but hypothalamic Dio2 and Dio3 expressions were significantly reduced compared to that in the sham- exposed group. Pb exposure altered the hypothalamic mRNA levels of Oatp1c1 and Trh, pituitary mRNA of Trhr, and Tpo and Tg expression in the thyroid. In conclusion, LTE EMF exposure altered hypothalamic Dio2 and Dio3 expression, potentially impacting the HPT axis function. Further research is needed to explore RF-EMF's impacts on the endocrine system. Open access paper: mdpi.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

After 4 weeks of whole-body LTE EMF exposure (SAR 4 W/kg), mice showed increased T3 levels and significantly reduced hypothalamic Dio2 and Dio3 expression versus sham, with no reported gene expression alterations in thyroid or pituitary glands. The positive control (lead) increased T3 and T4, decreased ACTH, and altered multiple HPT-axis-related transcripts.

Outcomes measured

• Thyroid hormone levels (T3, T4)
• ACTH levels
• Behavioral tests (open field, marble burying, nest building)
• Gene expression in hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis (e.g., Dio2, Dio3, Oatp1c1, Trh, Trhr, Tpo, Tg)

Limitations

• Frequency of LTE exposure not reported in abstract
• Sample size not reported in abstract
• Behavioral test results are not explicitly reported in the abstract
• Exposure conditions beyond SAR and duration (e.g., modulation, duty cycle) not reported in abstract

Suggested hubs

• rf-animal-studies (0.9)
  Animal experiment assessing biological effects of RF (4G LTE) exposure.

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    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "4G LTE",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": 4,
        "duration": "4 weeks"
    },
    "population": "Four-week-old adolescent male C57BL/6 mice",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Thyroid hormone levels (T3, T4)",
        "ACTH levels",
        "Behavioral tests (open field, marble burying, nest building)",
        "Gene expression in hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis (e.g., Dio2, Dio3, Oatp1c1, Trh, Trhr, Tpo, Tg)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "After 4 weeks of whole-body LTE EMF exposure (SAR 4 W/kg), mice showed increased T3 levels and significantly reduced hypothalamic Dio2 and Dio3 expression versus sham, with no reported gene expression alterations in thyroid or pituitary glands. The positive control (lead) increased T3 and T4, decreased ACTH, and altered multiple HPT-axis-related transcripts.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Frequency of LTE exposure not reported in abstract",
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Behavioral test results are not explicitly reported in the abstract",
        "Exposure conditions beyond SAR and duration (e.g., modulation, duty cycle) not reported in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "4G",
        "LTE",
        "RF-EMF",
        "specific absorption rate",
        "SAR 4 W/kg",
        "thyroid hormones",
        "T3",
        "T4",
        "HPT axis",
        "hypothalamus",
        "Dio2",
        "Dio3",
        "adolescent mice",
        "behavior"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "rf-animal-studies",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Animal experiment assessing biological effects of RF (4G LTE) exposure."
        }
    ]
}

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