Effect of prenatal stress and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on anxiety-like behavior in female rats: With an emphasis on prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

{
    "publication_year": 2023,
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "prenatal (maternal) exposure",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Female rats (offspring), 40 days of age; prenatal stress and/or prenatal ELF-EMF exposure via mothers",
    "sample_size": 24,
    "outcomes": [
        "Anxiety-like behavior (elevated plus-maze, open field)",
        "Hippocampus and prefrontal cortex immunohistochemistry (GAP-43, BDNF, caspase-3)",
        "Histomorphological neurodegenerative changes in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Anxiety-like behavior increased in all treatment groups (prenatal stress, prenatal ELF-EMF, and combined), with the combined EMF/stress group showing more severe anxiety-like behavior. Across treatment groups, caspase-3 expression was upregulated and BDNF and GAP-43 were downregulated in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampal regions assessed, alongside reported neurodegenerative histomorphological changes.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Animal study (female rats), which may not generalize to humans",
        "Small group sizes (6 rats per group)",
        "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, intensity, duration) not provided in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "stance": "concern",
    "stance_confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "summary": "This animal study examined whether prenatal stress and prenatal extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure interact to affect anxiety-like behavior in female rat offspring. Anxiety-like behavior increased in all exposed groups, with the combined prenatal stress + ELF-EMF group showing more severe behavioral changes. The study also reports increased caspase-3 and decreased BDNF and GAP-43 expression in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal regions, along with neurodegenerative histomorphological changes.",
    "key_points": [
        "Twenty-four female rats were assigned to control, prenatal stress, prenatal ELF-EMF, or combined prenatal stress + ELF-EMF groups (n=6 each).",
        "Anxiety-like behavior was assessed using the elevated plus-maze and open field tests.",
        "All treatment groups showed increased anxiety-like behavior compared with control.",
        "The combined prenatal stress + ELF-EMF group showed the most severe anxiety-like behavior.",
        "Immunohistochemistry indicated upregulated caspase-3 in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus across treatment groups.",
        "BDNF and GAP-43 expression were downregulated in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal regions in treatment groups.",
        "Histomorphological assessment reported extensive neurodegenerative changes in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex."
    ],
    "categories": [
        "Animal Studies",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "Neurobehavioral Effects",
        "Prenatal Exposure"
    ],
    "tags": [
        "Extremely Low Frequency EMF",
        "Prenatal Stress",
        "Anxiety-Like Behavior",
        "Female Rats",
        "Prefrontal Cortex",
        "Hippocampus",
        "BDNF",
        "GAP-43",
        "Caspase-3",
        "Neurodegeneration",
        "Elevated Plus Maze",
        "Open Field Test"
    ],
    "keywords": [
        "prenatal stress",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "anxiety-like behavior",
        "prefrontal cortex",
        "hippocampus",
        "BDNF",
        "GAP-43",
        "caspase-3",
        "neurodegeneration"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [],
    "social": {
        "tweet": "Rat study (n=24) reports prenatal stress and prenatal ELF-EMF exposure were each associated with increased anxiety-like behavior, with the combined exposure showing the most severe effects; authors also report altered BDNF/GAP-43/caspase-3 markers and neurodegenerative changes in PFC/hippocampus.",
        "facebook": "In a small rat study, prenatal stress and prenatal extremely low-frequency EMF exposure were each linked to increased anxiety-like behavior in female offspring, with the combined exposure showing the strongest behavioral changes. The authors also report changes in brain markers (BDNF, GAP-43, caspase-3) and neurodegenerative findings in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.",
        "linkedin": "Animal study (Brain and Behavior, 2023) examined interaction of prenatal stress and prenatal ELF-EMF exposure in female rats (n=24). All exposure groups showed increased anxiety-like behavior, with combined stress+ELF-EMF most severe; authors report altered BDNF/GAP-43/caspase-3 expression and neurodegenerative changes in PFC and hippocampus."
    }
}

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