Effects of prenatal mobile phone radiation exposure on MMP9 expression: Implications for inflammation, oxidative stress, and sensory-motor impairment after neonatal hypoxia- ischemia in rats

Abstract

Objective: Non-ionizing radiofrequency radiation, which finds application in various sectors such as industry, commerce, medicine, and particularly in mobile phone technology, has emerged as a topic of significant concern during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cell phone radio-frequency (RF) radiation during pregnancy on the Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and (MMP-9) 9 expressions after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in rats. Materials and methods: Two groups were formed by randomly assigning female Wistar rats: Group 1 consisted of female rats that were not exposed to RF radiation during pregnancy, while Group 2 comprised female rats that were exposed to RF radiation during pregnancy. After delivery, male offspring were divided into four groups including: (a) SHAM, (b) Exposure (EXP), (c) hypoxia-ischemia (HI), (d) HI/Exposure (HI/EXP). Seven days after HI induction, neurobehavioral tests were performed, and then brain tissue was taken from the skull to measure MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions, inflammation, oxidative stress, infarct volume and cerebral edema. Results: MMP-9 mRNA expression in the HI/EXP group was significantly higher than the HI, SHAM and EXP groups. MMP-2 mRNA expression levels in the HI group were significantly higher than Sham and the EXP groups.TNF-α and Total oxidant capacity (TOC) levels in the HI/EXP group were significantly higher than HI, EXP and SHAM groups. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level in the HI/EXP group were significantly lower than HI, EXP and SHAM groups. Cerebral edema and infarct volume in the HI/EXP group were significantly greater than the HI group. Sensory-motor function was significantly weaker in HI/EXP as compared HI group. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that during pregnancy, exposure to mobile phone RF radiation intensifies damage from HI in rat pups by elevating MMP-9 activity.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In male offspring, the HI/Exposure group showed significantly higher MMP-9 mRNA expression than HI, SHAM, and Exposure groups. HI/Exposure also had higher TNF-α and TOC and lower TAC than HI, Exposure, and SHAM, with greater cerebral edema and infarct volume than HI and weaker sensory-motor function than HI.

Outcomes measured

• MMP-2 mRNA expression
• MMP-9 mRNA expression
• TNF-α
• total oxidant capacity (TOC)
• total antioxidant capacity (TAC)
• cerebral edema
• infarct volume
• sensory-motor function (neurobehavioral tests)

Limitations

• RF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR, exposure duration details) not reported in the provided abstract
• Sample size not reported in the provided abstract
• Animal model (rats) may not directly generalize to humans

Suggested hubs

• prenatal-exposure (0.86)
  Study examines mobile phone RF exposure during pregnancy and outcomes in offspring.

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    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "during pregnancy (prenatal exposure)"
    },
    "population": "Female Wistar rats (pregnant dams) and male offspring (rat pups) with neonatal hypoxia-ischemia model",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "MMP-2 mRNA expression",
        "MMP-9 mRNA expression",
        "TNF-α",
        "total oxidant capacity (TOC)",
        "total antioxidant capacity (TAC)",
        "cerebral edema",
        "infarct volume",
        "sensory-motor function (neurobehavioral tests)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In male offspring, the HI/Exposure group showed significantly higher MMP-9 mRNA expression than HI, SHAM, and Exposure groups. HI/Exposure also had higher TNF-α and TOC and lower TAC than HI, Exposure, and SHAM, with greater cerebral edema and infarct volume than HI and weaker sensory-motor function than HI.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "RF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR, exposure duration details) not reported in the provided abstract",
        "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract",
        "Animal model (rats) may not directly generalize to humans"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "mobile phone",
        "prenatal exposure",
        "pregnancy",
        "hypoxia-ischemia",
        "MMP-9",
        "MMP-2",
        "inflammation",
        "oxidative stress",
        "TNF-α",
        "cerebral edema",
        "infarct volume",
        "sensory-motor impairment",
        "rat"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "prenatal-exposure",
            "weight": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
            "reason": "Study examines mobile phone RF exposure during pregnancy and outcomes in offspring."
        }
    ]
}

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