Evaluation of the neuroprotective effects of electromagnetic fields and coenzyme Q on hippocampal injury in mouse.

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are reported to interfere with chemical reactions involving free radical production. Coenzyme Q (CoQ10) is a strong antioxidant with some neuroprotective activities. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the neuroprotective effects of EMF and CoQ10 in a mouse model of hippocampal injury. Hippocampal injury was induced in mature female mice (25-30 g), using an intraperitoneal injection of trimethyltin hydroxide (TMT; 2.5 mg/kg). The experimental groups were exposed to EMF at a frequency of 50 Hz and intensity of 5.9 mT for 7 hr daily over 1 week or treated with CoQ10 (10 mg/kg) for 2 weeks following TMT injection. A Morris water maze apparatus was used to assess learning and spatial memory. Nissl staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) tests were also performed for the histopathological analysis of the hippocampus. Antiapoptotic genes were studied, using the Western blot technique. The water maze test showed memory improvement following treatment with CoQ10 and coadministration of CoQ10 + EMF. The Nissl staining and TUNEL tests indicated a decline in necrotic and apoptotic cell count following treatment with CoQ10 and coadministration of CoQ10 + EMF. The Western blot study indicated the upregulation of antiapoptotic genes in treatment with CoQ10, as well as coadministration. Also, treatment with EMF had no significant effects on reducing damage induced by TMT in the hippocampus. According to the results, EMF had no significant neuroprotective effects in comparison with CoQ10 on hippocampal injury in mice. Nevertheless, coadministration of EMF and CoQ10 could improve the neuroprotective effects of CoQ10.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In the Morris water maze, memory improved with CoQ10 and with coadministration of CoQ10 + EMF. Nissl and TUNEL analyses showed reduced necrotic and apoptotic cell counts with CoQ10 and with CoQ10 + EMF, while EMF alone had no significant effect on reducing TMT-induced hippocampal damage; Western blot indicated upregulation of antiapoptotic genes with CoQ10 and with coadministration.

Outcomes measured

• Learning and spatial memory (Morris water maze)
• Hippocampal histopathology (Nissl staining)
• Apoptosis (TUNEL)
• Antiapoptotic gene/protein expression (Western blot)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in abstract
• Only one EMF exposure condition reported (50 Hz, 5.9 mT; 7 hr/day for 1 week)
• Animal model with chemically induced injury (TMT) may limit generalizability
• Publication type indicates the article is retracted

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.25)
  Uses 50 Hz ELF magnetic field exposure, relevant to ELF exposure contexts (though not explicitly occupational).

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        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "7 hr daily over 1 week"
    },
    "population": "Mature female mice (25–30 g) with trimethyltin hydroxide (TMT)-induced hippocampal injury",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Learning and spatial memory (Morris water maze)",
        "Hippocampal histopathology (Nissl staining)",
        "Apoptosis (TUNEL)",
        "Antiapoptotic gene/protein expression (Western blot)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In the Morris water maze, memory improved with CoQ10 and with coadministration of CoQ10 + EMF. Nissl and TUNEL analyses showed reduced necrotic and apoptotic cell counts with CoQ10 and with CoQ10 + EMF, while EMF alone had no significant effect on reducing TMT-induced hippocampal damage; Western blot indicated upregulation of antiapoptotic genes with CoQ10 and with coadministration.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Only one EMF exposure condition reported (50 Hz, 5.9 mT; 7 hr/day for 1 week)",
        "Animal model with chemically induced injury (TMT) may limit generalizability",
        "Publication type indicates the article is retracted"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "very_low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "5.9 mT",
        "coenzyme Q10",
        "CoQ10",
        "hippocampal injury",
        "trimethyltin",
        "mouse",
        "Morris water maze",
        "TUNEL",
        "Nissl staining",
        "apoptosis",
        "neuroprotection"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.25,
            "reason": "Uses 50 Hz ELF magnetic field exposure, relevant to ELF exposure contexts (though not explicitly occupational)."
        }
    ]
}

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