High-Power Electromagnetic Pulse Exposure (EMP) of Healthy Mice: Effects on Cognition, Neuronal Activity, and Hippocampal Structures

2022 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 744

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

High-Power Electromagnetic Pulse Exposure (EMP) of Healthy Mice: Effects on Cognition, Neuronal Activity, and Hippocampal Structures Hao Y, Liu W, Xu Z, Jin X, Ye Y, Yu C, Hu C, Zuo H, Li Y. High-Power Electromagnetic Pulse Exposure of Healthy Mice: Assessment of Effects on Mice Cognitions, Neuronal Activities, and Hippocampal Structures. Front Cell Neurosci. 2022 Jun 29;16:898164. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2022.898164. Abstract Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a high-energy pulse with an extremely rapid rise time and a broad bandwidth. The brain is a target organ sensitive to electromagnetic radiation (EMR), the biological effects and related mechanisms of EMPs on the brain remain unclear. The objectives of the study were to assess the effects of EMP exposure on mouse cognitions, and the neuronal calcium activities in vivo under different cases of real-time exposure and post exposure. EMP-treated animal model was established by exposing male adult C57BL/6N mice to 300 kV/m EMPs. First, the effects of EMPs on the cognitions, including the spatial learning and memory, avoidance learning and memory, novelty-seeking behavior, and anxiety, were assessed by multiple behavioral experiments. Then, the changes in the neuronal activities of the hippocampal CA1 area in vivo were detected by fiber photometry in both cases of during real-time EMP radiation and post-exposure. Finally, the structures of neurons in hippocampi were observed by optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. We found that EMPs under this condition caused a decline in the spatial learning and memory ability in mice, but no effects on the avoidance learning and memory, novelty-seeking behavior, and anxiety. The neuron activities of hippocampal CA1 were disturbed by EMP exposure, which were inhibited during EMP exposure, but activated immediately after exposure end. Additionally, the CA1 neuron activities, when mice entered the central area in an Open field (OF) test or explored the novelty in a Novel object exploration (NOE) test, were inhibited on day 1 and day 7 after radiation. Besides, damaged structures in hippocampal neurons were observed after EMP radiation. In conclusion, EMP radiation impaired the spatial learning and memory ability and disturbed the neuronal activities in hippocampal CA1 in mice. Open access paper: frontiersin.org

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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 directionmixed

PopulationMale adult C57BL/6N mice

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Male adult C57BL/6N mice exposed to 300 kV/m EMPs showed reduced spatial learning and memory, with no observed effects on avoidance learning and memory, novelty-seeking behavior, or anxiety. Hippocampal CA1 neuronal activity was inhibited during exposure and activated immediately after exposure ended; CA1 activity during specific behaviors (open field center entry and novel object exploration) was inhibited on day 1 and day 7 post-exposure. Structural damage in hippocampal neurons was observed after EMP radiation.

Outcomes measured

Spatial learning and memory
Avoidance learning and memory
Novelty-seeking behavior
Anxiety
Hippocampal CA1 neuronal calcium activity (fiber photometry)
Hippocampal neuronal structure (optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
Exposure duration and detailed exposure parameters (e.g., pulse characteristics, bandwidth specifics) not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
Animal model; generalizability to humans not addressed in the provided abstract/metadata

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electromagnetic pulse (EMP)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Male adult C57BL/6N mice",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Spatial learning and memory",
    "Avoidance learning and memory",
    "Novelty-seeking behavior",
    "Anxiety",
    "Hippocampal CA1 neuronal calcium activity (fiber photometry)",
    "Hippocampal neuronal structure (optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Male adult C57BL/6N mice exposed to 300 kV/m EMPs showed reduced spatial learning and memory, with no observed effects on avoidance learning and memory, novelty-seeking behavior, or anxiety. Hippocampal CA1 neuronal activity was inhibited during exposure and activated immediately after exposure ended; CA1 activity during specific behaviors (open field center entry and novel object exploration) was inhibited on day 1 and day 7 post-exposure. Structural damage in hippocampal neurons was observed after EMP radiation.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure duration and detailed exposure parameters (e.g., pulse characteristics, bandwidth specifics) not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "Animal model; generalizability to humans not addressed in the provided abstract/metadata"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic pulse",
    "EMP",
    "mouse",
    "cognition",
    "spatial learning",
    "memory",
    "hippocampus",
    "CA1",
    "fiber photometry",
    "neuronal activity",
    "electron microscopy"
  ],
  "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: 10.3389/fncel.2022.898164
PubMed: Not supplied

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