Effect of prenatal stress and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on anxiety-like behavior in female rats: With an emphasis on prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

{
  "publication_year": 2023,
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "prenatal (maternal) exposure",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Female rats (offspring), 40 days of age; prenatal stress and/or prenatal ELF-EMF exposure via mothers",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Anxiety-like behavior (elevated plus-maze, open field)",
    "Hippocampus and prefrontal cortex immunohistochemistry (GAP-43, BDNF, caspase-3)",
    "Histomorphological neurodegenerative changes in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Anxiety-like behavior increased in all treatment groups (prenatal stress, prenatal ELF-EMF, and combined), with the combined EMF/stress group showing more severe anxiety-like behavior. Across treatment groups, caspase-3 expression was upregulated and BDNF and GAP-43 were downregulated in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampal regions assessed, alongside reported neurodegenerative histomorphological changes.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal study (female rats), which may not generalize to humans",
    "Small group sizes (6 rats per group)",
    "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, intensity, duration) not provided in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "stance": "concern",
  "stance_confidence": 0.74,
  "summary": "This animal study examined whether prenatal stress and prenatal extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure interact to affect anxiety-like behavior in female rat offspring. Anxiety-like behavior increased in all exposed groups, with the combined prenatal stress + ELF-EMF group showing more severe behavioral changes. The study also reports increased caspase-3 and decreased BDNF and GAP-43 expression in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal regions, along with neurodegenerative histomorphological changes.",
  "key_points": [
    "Twenty-four female rats were assigned to control, prenatal stress, prenatal ELF-EMF, or combined prenatal stress + ELF-EMF groups (n=6 each).",
    "Anxiety-like behavior was assessed using the elevated plus-maze and open field tests.",
    "All treatment groups showed increased anxiety-like behavior compared with control.",
    "The combined prenatal stress + ELF-EMF group showed the most severe anxiety-like behavior.",
    "Immunohistochemistry indicated upregulated caspase-3 in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus across treatment groups.",
    "BDNF and GAP-43 expression were downregulated in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal regions in treatment groups.",
    "Histomorphological assessment reported extensive neurodegenerative changes in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex."
  ],
  "categories": [
    "Animal Studies",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "Neurobehavioral Effects",
    "Prenatal Exposure"
  ],
  "tags": [
    "Extremely Low Frequency EMF",
    "Prenatal Stress",
    "Anxiety-Like Behavior",
    "Female Rats",
    "Prefrontal Cortex",
    "Hippocampus",
    "BDNF",
    "GAP-43",
    "Caspase-3",
    "Neurodegeneration",
    "Elevated Plus Maze",
    "Open Field Test"
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "prenatal stress",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "anxiety-like behavior",
    "prefrontal cortex",
    "hippocampus",
    "BDNF",
    "GAP-43",
    "caspase-3",
    "neurodegeneration"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [],
  "social": {
    "tweet": "Rat study (n=24) reports prenatal stress and prenatal ELF-EMF exposure were each associated with increased anxiety-like behavior, with the combined exposure showing the most severe effects; authors also report altered BDNF/GAP-43/caspase-3 markers and neurodegenerative changes in PFC/hippocampus.",
    "facebook": "In a small rat study, prenatal stress and prenatal extremely low-frequency EMF exposure were each linked to increased anxiety-like behavior in female offspring, with the combined exposure showing the strongest behavioral changes. The authors also report changes in brain markers (BDNF, GAP-43, caspase-3) and neurodegenerative findings in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.",
    "linkedin": "Animal study (Brain and Behavior, 2023) examined interaction of prenatal stress and prenatal ELF-EMF exposure in female rats (n=24). All exposure groups showed increased anxiety-like behavior, with combined stress+ELF-EMF most severe; authors report altered BDNF/GAP-43/caspase-3 expression and neurodegenerative changes in PFC and hippocampus."
  }
}