Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation on Neuropeptide Transcript Levels in the Synganglion of Ixodes ricinus

2023 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 362

Ticks exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic radiation showed significant decreases in neuropeptide transcript levels in all female groups exposed to higher intensity for 1–3 h. In males, one hour of exposure was associated with significant downregulation of alla…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2023

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation on Neuropeptide Transcript Levels in the Synganglion of Ixodes ricinus [ticks] Šofranková L, Baňas M, Pipová N, Majláth I, Kurimský J, Cimbala R, Pavlík M, Mateos-Hernández L, Šimo L, Majláthová V. Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation on Neuropeptide Transcript Levels in the Synganglion of Ixodes ricinus. Pathogens. 2023; 12(12):1398. doi.org Abstract Anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation is an important environmental factor affecting the functionality of biological systems. Sensitivity to various frequencies of electromagnetic radiation has been detected in ixodid ticks in the past. However, the physiological aspects of radiation effects have not yet been studied in ticks. In the presented experiment, 360 Ixodes ricinus ticks, 180 males and 180 females, were divided into 16 irradiated and 8 control groups. The irradiated groups were exposed to two different intensities of electromagnetic radiation with a frequency of 900 MHz at different lengths of exposure time. RT-PCR was utilized to determine the changes in mRNA levels in tick synganglia after irradiation. Four randomly selected neuropeptide genes were tested—allatotropin (at), FGLa-related allatostatins (fgla/ast), kinin, and arginine-vasopressin-like peptide (avpl). A significant decrease in transcript levels in all female groups exposed to higher intensity radiofrequency radiation for 1 to 3 h was found. After one hour of radiofrequency exposure, a significant downregulation in allatotropin expression in males was detected. A consistent downregulation of the at gene was detected in males irradiated with at a higher intensity. Unfortunately, the specific functions of the studied neuropeptides in ticks are not known yet, so a more comprehensive study is necessary to describe the effects of EMF on observed neuropeptides. This study represents the first report on the effects of the abiotic environment on tick neurophysiology. Open access paper: mdpi.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationIxodes ricinus ticks (males and females)

Sample size360

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 1 to 3 h (also mentions one hour; multiple exposure lengths)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

mRNA/transcript levels in tick synganglia (RT-PCR)
allatotropin (at) transcript level
FGLa-related allatostatins (fgla/ast) transcript level
kinin transcript level
arginine-vasopressin-like peptide (avpl) transcript level

Limitations

Specific exposure intensities are not quantified in the abstract (only described as two intensities and “higher intensity”).
Functions of the studied neuropeptides in ticks are stated as not yet known, limiting physiological interpretation.
Only four randomly selected neuropeptide genes were tested.
Outcome is transcript level changes; no organism-level health/behavior endpoints reported in the abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 to 3 h (also mentions one hour; multiple exposure lengths)"
  },
  "population": "Ixodes ricinus ticks (males and females)",
  "sample_size": 360,
  "outcomes": [
    "mRNA/transcript levels in tick synganglia (RT-PCR)",
    "allatotropin (at) transcript level",
    "FGLa-related allatostatins (fgla/ast) transcript level",
    "kinin transcript level",
    "arginine-vasopressin-like peptide (avpl) transcript level"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Ticks exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic radiation showed significant decreases in neuropeptide transcript levels in all female groups exposed to higher intensity for 1–3 h. In males, one hour of exposure was associated with significant downregulation of allatotropin, and a consistent downregulation of the at gene was reported in males irradiated at higher intensity.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Specific exposure intensities are not quantified in the abstract (only described as two intensities and “higher intensity”).",
    "Functions of the studied neuropeptides in ticks are stated as not yet known, limiting physiological interpretation.",
    "Only four randomly selected neuropeptide genes were tested.",
    "Outcome is transcript level changes; no organism-level health/behavior endpoints reported in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "Ixodes ricinus",
    "tick",
    "synganglion",
    "radiofrequency",
    "900 MHz",
    "electromagnetic radiation",
    "RT-PCR",
    "mRNA",
    "neuropeptides",
    "allatotropin",
    "allatostatins",
    "kinin",
    "arginine-vasopressin-like peptide"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121398
PubMed: Not supplied

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