Oxidative damage in the liver and brain of the rats exposed to frequency-dependent radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure: Biochemical and histopathological evidence

Free radical research · 2021 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1058

Study snapshot

PublicationFree radical research · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Oxidative damage in the liver and brain of the rats exposed to frequency-dependent radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure: Biochemical and histopathological evidence Anjali Sharma, Sadhana Shrivastava, Sangeeta Shukla. Oxidative damage in the liver and brain of the rats exposed to frequency-dependent radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure: Biochemical and histopathological evidence. Free Radic Res. 2021 Aug 17;1-30. doi: 10.1080/10715762.2021.1966001. Highlights • EMR exposure showed frequency-dependent toxicity. • Alterations in blood profile and modifications in the serological markers. • Increasing lipid peroxidation indicating membrane damage. • Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity affecting cholinergic neurotransmission. • EMR exposure resulted in the loss of cellular energy and production of excess amounts of ROS thereby altering several antioxidant enzymes. • Histopathological evidence of severe degenerative changes in the liver and brain. Abstract The study aimed to discover a link between the liver and brain's functional status due to frequency dependent- radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR). 40 Wistar rats were randomly classified as control (sham-exposed) and EMR exposed groups. Animals were exposed to 900, 1800, and 2100 MHz with the specific absorption rate (SAR) 0.434 (W/Kg), 0.433 (W/Kg), and 0.453 (W/Kg) respectively. Animal exposure was limited at 1 hour/day, 5 days/week for 1 month with a restricted power density (900 MHz- 11.638µW/m2, 1800- 11.438 µW/m2 and 2100 MHz frequency- 8.237 µW/m2). Exposure at various frequencies showed a frequency-dependent change in the body weight and hematologic parameters (RBCs, WBCs, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit) as compared with the control group (P ≤ 0.01)(P ≤ 0.001). A significant elevation in serum transaminases and bilirubin, urea, uric acid, and creatinine was noted, whereas albumin significantly decreased after EMR exposure (P ≤ 0.01)(P ≤ 0.001). The blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, triglycerides, and cholesterol were elevated while adenosine triphosphatases, acetylcholinesterase, and tissue antioxidants such as glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione Peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases were decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.001). Histopathological observations of the liver showed centrilobular mononuclear cell infiltration and swelling in sinusoidal spaces, while in the brain degenerated pyramidal and Purkinje neurons were seen. Furthermore, Substantial evidence was found that the brain is more susceptible to oxidative mutilation compared to the liver of exposed animals. In conclusion, RF-EMR exposure showed oxidative damage to the liver, increasing the incidence of brain damage in a frequency-dependent manner. Highlights EMR exposure showed frequency-dependent toxicity.Alterations in blood profile and modifications in the serological markers.Increasing lipid peroxidation indicating membrane damage.Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity affecting cholinergic neurotransmission.EMR exposure resulted in the loss of cellular energy and production of excess amounts of ROS thereby altering several antioxidant enzymes.Histopathological evidence of severe degenerative changes in the liver and brain. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Conclusion Our findings documented that the frequency of EMR exposure is a significant factor associated with its toxicity, the extent of toxicity is increased with a simultaneous increase in the frequency of exposure. In addition, this study confirms that EMR exposure initiates hepatic and neural injury, but the potency of damage was more prominent in the brain.Our results will provide support for future studies in the analysis of electromagnetic radiation and its associated systemic injury.

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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 directionharm

PopulationWistar rats

Sample size40

ExposureRF · 1 hour/day, 5 days/week for 1 month

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

40 rats were sham-exposed or exposed to RF-EMR at 900, 1800, or 2100 MHz (SARs 0.434, 0.433, 0.453 W/kg; 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 1 month). Compared with controls, exposed groups showed frequency-dependent changes including altered body weight and hematologic parameters, increased serum markers of liver/kidney injury (e.g., transaminases, bilirubin, urea/uric acid/creatinine) with decreased albumin, increased lipid peroxidation and metabolic markers, decreased acetylcholinesterase and multiple antioxidant enzymes, and histopathological degenerative changes in liver and brain; the brain was reported as more susceptible than the liver.

Outcomes measured

Body weight
Hematologic parameters (RBCs, WBCs, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit)
Serum transaminases
Bilirubin
Urea
Uric acid
Creatinine
Albumin
Blood glucose
Lipid peroxidation
Triglycerides
Cholesterol
Adenosine triphosphatases
Acetylcholinesterase activity
Antioxidant enzymes/markers (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase)
Liver histopathology (e.g., mononuclear cell infiltration, sinusoidal swelling)
Brain histopathology (e.g., degenerated pyramidal and Purkinje neurons)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 hour/day, 5 days/week for 1 month"
  },
  "population": "Wistar rats",
  "sample_size": 40,
  "outcomes": [
    "Body weight",
    "Hematologic parameters (RBCs, WBCs, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit)",
    "Serum transaminases",
    "Bilirubin",
    "Urea",
    "Uric acid",
    "Creatinine",
    "Albumin",
    "Blood glucose",
    "Lipid peroxidation",
    "Triglycerides",
    "Cholesterol",
    "Adenosine triphosphatases",
    "Acetylcholinesterase activity",
    "Antioxidant enzymes/markers (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase)",
    "Liver histopathology (e.g., mononuclear cell infiltration, sinusoidal swelling)",
    "Brain histopathology (e.g., degenerated pyramidal and Purkinje neurons)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "40 rats were sham-exposed or exposed to RF-EMR at 900, 1800, or 2100 MHz (SARs 0.434, 0.433, 0.453 W/kg; 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 1 month). Compared with controls, exposed groups showed frequency-dependent changes including altered body weight and hematologic parameters, increased serum markers of liver/kidney injury (e.g., transaminases, bilirubin, urea/uric acid/creatinine) with decreased albumin, increased lipid peroxidation and metabolic markers, decreased acetylcholinesterase and multiple antioxidant enzymes, and histopathological degenerative changes in liver and brain; the brain was reported as more susceptible than the liver.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation",
    "RF-EMR",
    "frequency-dependent",
    "900 MHz",
    "1800 MHz",
    "2100 MHz",
    "SAR",
    "oxidative stress",
    "lipid peroxidation",
    "antioxidant enzymes",
    "acetylcholinesterase",
    "liver",
    "brain",
    "histopathology",
    "Wistar rats"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "animal-studies",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Experimental RF-EMR exposure study in rats with biochemical and histopathological outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1080/10715762.2021.1966001
PubMed: 34404322

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