Short-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation and metabolic enzymes' activities during pregnancy and prenatal development

Abstract

Short-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation and metabolic enzymes' activities during pregnancy and prenatal development Tomruk A, Ozgur-Buyukatalay E, Ozturk GG, Ulusu NN. Short-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation and metabolic enzymes' activities during pregnancy and prenatal development. Electromagn Biol Med. 2022 Jul 29:1-9. doi: 10.1080/15368378.2022.2104309. Abstract Radiofrequency radiation (RFR) as an environmental and physical pollutant may induce vulnerability to toxicity and disturb fetal development. Therefore, the potential health effects of short-term mobile phone like RFR exposure (GSM 1800 MHz; 14 V/m, 2 mW/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) during 15 min/day for a week) during pregnancy and also the development of fetuses were investigated. Hepatic glucose regulation and glutathione-dependent enzymes' capacities were biochemically analyzed in adult (female) and pregnant New Zealand White rabbits. Pregnant rabbits' two-day-old offspring were included to understand their developmental stages under short-term maternal RFR exposure. We analyzed two regulatory enzymes in the oxidative phase of phosphogluconate pathways to interpret the cytosolic NADPH's biosynthesis for maintaining mitochondrial energy metabolism. Moreover, the efficiencies of maternal glutathione-dependent enzymes on both the removal of metabolic disturbances during pregnancy and fetus development were examined. Whole- body RFR exposures were applied to pregnant animals from the 15th to the 22nd day of their gestations, i.e., the maturation periods of tissues and organs for rabbit fetuses. There were significant differences in hepatic glucose regulation and GSH-dependent enzymes' capacities with pregnancy and short-term RFR exposure. Consequently, we observed that intrauterine exposure to RFR might lead to cellular ROS- dependent disturbances in metabolic activity and any deficiency in the intracellular antioxidant (ROS-scavenging) system. This study might be a novel insight into further studies on the possible effects of short-term RF exposure and prenatal development. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In pregnant rabbits exposed to GSM 1800 MHz RFR (14 V/m; SAR 2 mW/kg; 15 min/day for a week), the authors report significant differences in hepatic glucose regulation and glutathione-dependent enzymes' capacities associated with pregnancy and short-term RFR exposure. The authors conclude that intrauterine exposure to RFR might lead to ROS-dependent disturbances in metabolic activity and deficiency in intracellular antioxidant (ROS-scavenging) systems.

Outcomes measured

• Hepatic glucose regulation
• Glutathione-dependent enzymes' capacities (GSH-dependent enzymes)
• Regulatory enzymes in oxidative phase of phosphogluconate pathways (cytosolic NADPH biosynthesis)
• Indicators consistent with ROS-dependent disturbances in metabolic activity/antioxidant system deficiency (as interpreted by authors)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in abstract
• Specific biochemical endpoints and direction/magnitude of changes not detailed in abstract
• Exposure description includes both '15 min/day for a week' and gestation days 15–22; exact exposure schedule details are unclear from abstract
• Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract

Suggested hubs

• mobile-phones (0.78)
  Exposure described as mobile phone-like GSM 1800 MHz RFR.
• pregnancy-prenatal (0.86)
  Study examines exposure during pregnancy and outcomes in offspring.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone like (GSM)",
        "frequency_mhz": 1800,
        "sar_wkg": 2,
        "duration": "15 min/day for a week; whole-body exposure applied to pregnant rabbits from gestation day 15 to 22"
    },
    "population": "New Zealand White rabbits (adult female and pregnant); two-day-old offspring of pregnant rabbits",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Hepatic glucose regulation",
        "Glutathione-dependent enzymes' capacities (GSH-dependent enzymes)",
        "Regulatory enzymes in oxidative phase of phosphogluconate pathways (cytosolic NADPH biosynthesis)",
        "Indicators consistent with ROS-dependent disturbances in metabolic activity/antioxidant system deficiency (as interpreted by authors)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In pregnant rabbits exposed to GSM 1800 MHz RFR (14 V/m; SAR 2 mW/kg; 15 min/day for a week), the authors report significant differences in hepatic glucose regulation and glutathione-dependent enzymes' capacities associated with pregnancy and short-term RFR exposure. The authors conclude that intrauterine exposure to RFR might lead to ROS-dependent disturbances in metabolic activity and deficiency in intracellular antioxidant (ROS-scavenging) systems.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Specific biochemical endpoints and direction/magnitude of changes not detailed in abstract",
        "Exposure description includes both '15 min/day for a week' and gestation days 15–22; exact exposure schedule details are unclear from abstract",
        "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "GSM 1800 MHz",
        "pregnancy",
        "prenatal development",
        "rabbit",
        "hepatic glucose regulation",
        "glutathione-dependent enzymes",
        "NADPH",
        "oxidative stress",
        "ROS",
        "SAR"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
            "reason": "Exposure described as mobile phone-like GSM 1800 MHz RFR."
        },
        {
            "slug": "pregnancy-prenatal",
            "weight": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
            "reason": "Study examines exposure during pregnancy and outcomes in offspring."
        }
    ]
}

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