Biological Effects of Exposure to a Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field on the Placental Barrier in Pregnant Rats

Bioelectromagnetics · 2021 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1222

Pregnant rats exposed to RF-EMF at whole-body SAR 4 W/kg (8 h/day, gestational days 1–19) had significantly increased maternal cortisol in circulating blood and adrenal gland versus sham (P < 0.05). Placental cortisol was maintained, placental 11β-HSD2 mRNA e…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Biological Effects of Exposure to a Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field on the Placental Barrier in Pregnant Rats Hye Sun Kim, Hyung-Do Choi, Jeong-Ki Pack, Nam Kim, Young Hwan Ahn. Biological Effects of Exposure to a Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field on the Placental Barrier in Pregnant Rats. Bioelectromagnetics. 2021 Feb 1. doi: 10.1002/bem.22322. Abstract The placenta protects the fetus against excessive stress-associated maternal cortisol during pregnancy. We studied whether exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) radiation during pregnancy can cause changes in dams and their placentas. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into cage-control, sham- exposed, and RF-exposed groups. They were exposed to RF-EMF signals at a whole-body specific absorption rate of 4 W/kg for 8 h/day from gestational Day 1 to 19. Levels of cortisol in the blood, adrenal gland, and placenta were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticotropin-releasing hormone were monitored in maternal blood. Expression levels of placental 11β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) messenger RNA (mRNA) were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Morphological changes in the placenta were analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Fetal parts of the placenta were measured using Zen 2.3 blue edition software. Maternal cortisol in circulating blood (RF: 230 ± 24.6 ng/ml and Sham: 156 ± 8.3 ng/ml) and the adrenal gland (RF: 58.3 ± 4.5 ng/ml and Sham: 30 ± 3.8 ng/ml) was significantly increased in the RF-exposed group (P < 0.05). Placental cortisol was stably maintained, and the level of placental 11β-HSD2 mRNA expression was not changed in the RF-exposed group. RF-EMF exposure during pregnancy caused a significant elevation of cortisol levels in circulating blood; however, no changes in the placental barrier were observed in pregnant rats. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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

PopulationPregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (dams) and placentas

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 4 W/kg · 8 h/day from gestational Day 1 to 19

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Maternal cortisol levels (circulating blood, adrenal gland)
Placental cortisol levels
Maternal blood adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Maternal blood corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
Placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) mRNA expression
Placental morphology (H&E staining)
Fetal parts of placenta measurements

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
RF-EMF frequency and signal characteristics not reported in abstract
Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 4,
    "duration": "8 h/day from gestational Day 1 to 19"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (dams) and placentas",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Maternal cortisol levels (circulating blood, adrenal gland)",
    "Placental cortisol levels",
    "Maternal blood adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)",
    "Maternal blood corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)",
    "Placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) mRNA expression",
    "Placental morphology (H&E staining)",
    "Fetal parts of placenta measurements"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Pregnant rats exposed to RF-EMF at whole-body SAR 4 W/kg (8 h/day, gestational days 1–19) had significantly increased maternal cortisol in circulating blood and adrenal gland versus sham (P < 0.05). Placental cortisol was maintained, placental 11β-HSD2 mRNA expression was not changed, and no placental barrier/morphological changes were observed.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "RF-EMF frequency and signal characteristics not reported in abstract",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic field",
    "RF-EMF",
    "pregnancy",
    "placenta",
    "placental barrier",
    "cortisol",
    "11β-HSD2",
    "Sprague-Dawley rats",
    "specific absorption rate"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "pregnancy-and-reproduction",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study examines RF-EMF exposure during pregnancy and placental outcomes in rats."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1002/bem.22322
PubMed: 33527465

Read the original paper →

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