Abnormal Expression of Connexin43 in Cardiac Injury Induced by S-Band and X-Band Microwave Exposure in Rats

Abstract

Abnormal Expression of Connexin43 in Cardiac Injury Induced by S-Band and X-Band Microwave Exposure in Rats Yin Y, Xu X, Gao Y, Wang J, Yao B, Zhao L, Wang H, Wang H, Dong J, Zhang J, Peng R. Abnormal Expression of Connexin43 in Cardiac Injury Induced by S-Band and X-Band Microwave Exposure in Rats. J Immunol Res. 2021 Dec 17;2021:3985697. doi: 10.1155/2021/3985697. Abstract Although the effects of microwave exposure on the heart have gradually become the focus of domestic and foreign scholars, the biological effects caused by different doses and different frequency bands of exposure are still unclear. In this study, we will investigate the damaging effect of S-band and X-band microwave composite exposure on cardiac structure and function, as well as the pathophysiological significance of Cx43 in cardiac conduction dysfunction after exposure. We used S- and X-band radiation sources with the average power density of 5 and 10 mW/cm2 to expose Wistar rats to single or composite exposure. At the 6th hour, on the 7th, 14th, and 28th days after exposure, ECG was used to detect the electrical conduction of the heart, and the myocardial enzyme was measured by the automatic biochemical analyzer. We selected the observation time points and groups with severe damage to observe the changes of myocardial structure and ultrastructure with an optical microscope and TEM; and to detect the expression and distribution of Cx43 by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. After exposure, the heart rate increased, the P wave amplitude decreased, and the R wave amplitude increased; the content of the myocardial enzyme in serum increased; the structure and ultrastructure of cardiac tissue were damaged. The damage was dose-dependent and frequency-dependent. The expression of Cx43 in myocardial tissue decreased, and distribution was abnormal. Taken together, these findings suggested that the mechanism of abnormal electrical conduction in the heart of rats by S- and X-band microwave exposure might be related to the decreased expression and disordered distribution of Cx43 after microwave exposure. Open access paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Rats exposed to S-band and/or X-band microwaves (average power density 5 or 10 mW/cm2) showed increased heart rate, decreased P wave amplitude, increased R wave amplitude, increased serum myocardial enzyme levels, and damaged cardiac tissue structure/ultrastructure. Effects were described as dose-dependent and frequency-dependent, with decreased and abnormally distributed Cx43 in myocardial tissue after exposure.

Outcomes measured

• ECG parameters (heart rate, P wave amplitude, R wave amplitude)
• Serum myocardial enzyme levels
• Cardiac tissue structure and ultrastructure (optical microscopy, TEM)
• Connexin43 (Cx43) expression and distribution (western blotting, immunohistochemistry)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
• Specific S-band and X-band frequencies not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
• Exposure duration not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
• Details of randomization/blinding not reported in the provided abstract/metadata

Suggested hubs

• rf-health-effects (0.9)
  Animal study assessing cardiac effects from microwave (RF) exposure.
• mechanisms-oxidative-stress-inflammation (0.35)

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    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": "radiation sources (S-band and X-band)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Wistar rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "ECG parameters (heart rate, P wave amplitude, R wave amplitude)",
        "Serum myocardial enzyme levels",
        "Cardiac tissue structure and ultrastructure (optical microscopy, TEM)",
        "Connexin43 (Cx43) expression and distribution (western blotting, immunohistochemistry)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats exposed to S-band and/or X-band microwaves (average power density 5 or 10 mW/cm2) showed increased heart rate, decreased P wave amplitude, increased R wave amplitude, increased serum myocardial enzyme levels, and damaged cardiac tissue structure/ultrastructure. Effects were described as dose-dependent and frequency-dependent, with decreased and abnormally distributed Cx43 in myocardial tissue after exposure.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
        "Specific S-band and X-band frequencies not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
        "Exposure duration not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
        "Details of randomization/blinding not reported in the provided abstract/metadata"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave exposure",
        "S-band",
        "X-band",
        "cardiac injury",
        "ECG",
        "myocardial enzymes",
        "Connexin43",
        "Cx43",
        "rats",
        "TEM"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "rf-health-effects",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Animal study assessing cardiac effects from microwave (RF) exposure."
        },
        {
            "slug": "mechanisms-oxidative-stress-inflammation",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": null
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