Protective effects of melatonin and omega-3 on the hippocampus and the cerebellum of adult Wistar albino rats exposed to electromagnetic fields.

PAPER pubmed Journal of microscopy and ultrastructure 2017 Animal study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.jmau.2017.05.006 PMID: 30023259 Evidence Lab

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of pulsed digital electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones on the central nervous system of the adult Wistar albino rats. The study evaluated structural and functional impacts of four treatment arms: electromagnetic field (EMF) exposed; EMF exposed + melatonin treated group (EMF + Mel); EMF exposed + omega-3 (ω3) treated group (EMF + ω3); and control group (Cont). The 12-weeks-old rats were exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 60 min/day (4:00-5:00 p.m.) for 15 days. Stereological, biochemical and electrophysiological techniques were applied to evaluate protective effects of Mel and ω3. Significant cell loss in the CA1 and CA2 regions of hippocampus were observed in the EMF compared to other groups (p < 0.01). In the CA3 region of the EMF + ω3, a significant cell increase was found compared to other groups (p < 0.01). Granular cell loss was observed in the dentate gyrus of the EMF compared to the Cont (p < 0.01). EMF + ω3 has more granular cells in the cerebellum than the Cont, EMF + Mel (p < 0.01). Significant Purkinje cell loss was found in the cerebellum of EMF group compared to the other (p < 0.01). EMF + Mel and EMF + ω3 showed the same protection compared to the Cont (p > 0.05). The passive avoidance test showed that entrance latency into the dark compartment was significantly shorter in the EMF (p < 0.05). Additionally, EMF had a higher serum enzyme activity than the other groups (p < 0.01). In conclusion, our analyses confirm that EMF may lead to cellular damage in the hippocampus and the cerebellum, and that Mel and ω3 may have neuroprotective effects.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

Adult Wistar albino rats (12 weeks old)

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF mobile phone · 900 MHz · 60 min/day for 15 days

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to 900 MHz EMF showed significant cell loss in hippocampal CA1 and CA2 regions and dentate gyrus, and Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum, compared with other groups. Passive avoidance performance was worse in the EMF group (shorter entrance latency), and serum enzyme activity was higher than other groups. Melatonin and omega-3 co-treatment groups showed protective effects, with EMF+Mel and EMF+ω3 not differing from control for Purkinje cell loss (p>0.05), and some measures showing increased cell counts in EMF+ω3 versus other groups.

Outcomes measured

Hippocampal cell counts (CA1, CA2, CA3)
Dentate gyrus granular cell loss
Cerebellar granular cell counts
Purkinje cell loss in cerebellum
Passive avoidance test (entrance latency)
Serum enzyme activity
Stereological measures
Biochemical measures
Electrophysiological measures

Suggested hubs

mobile-phones-rf (0.9)
Exposure described as pulsed digital electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones at 900 MHz.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "60 min/day for 15 days"
    },
    "population": "Adult Wistar albino rats (12 weeks old)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Hippocampal cell counts (CA1, CA2, CA3)",
        "Dentate gyrus granular cell loss",
        "Cerebellar granular cell counts",
        "Purkinje cell loss in cerebellum",
        "Passive avoidance test (entrance latency)",
        "Serum enzyme activity",
        "Stereological measures",
        "Biochemical measures",
        "Electrophysiological measures"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 900 MHz EMF showed significant cell loss in hippocampal CA1 and CA2 regions and dentate gyrus, and Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum, compared with other groups. Passive avoidance performance was worse in the EMF group (shorter entrance latency), and serum enzyme activity was higher than other groups. Melatonin and omega-3 co-treatment groups showed protective effects, with EMF+Mel and EMF+ω3 not differing from control for Purkinje cell loss (p>0.05), and some measures showing increased cell counts in EMF+ω3 versus other groups.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "900 MHz",
        "mobile phone radiation",
        "pulsed digital electromagnetic radiation",
        "rat",
        "hippocampus",
        "cerebellum",
        "Purkinje cells",
        "dentate gyrus",
        "melatonin",
        "omega-3",
        "passive avoidance",
        "serum enzyme activity"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Exposure described as pulsed digital electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones at 900 MHz."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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