Effects of repeated 9 and 30-day exposure to ELF EMF on social recognition behavior & estrogen receptors expression in olfactory bulb of female rats

2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1419

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of repeated 9 and 30-day exposure to ELF EMF on social recognition behavior & estrogen receptors expression in olfactory bulb of female rats Bernal-Mondragón C, Arriaga-Avila V, Martínez-Abundis E, Barrera-Mera B, Mercado-Gómez O, Guevara- Guzmán R. Effects of repeated 9 and 30-day exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on social recognition behavior and estrogen receptors expression in olfactory bulb of Wistar female rats. Neurol Res. 2016 Nov 28:1-11. Abstract OBJECTIVE: We investigated the short- and long-term effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) on social recognition behavior and expression of α- and β-estrogen receptors (ER). METHODS: Rats were exposed to 60-Hz electromagnetic fields for 9 or 30 days and tested for social recognition behavior. Immunohistochemistry and western blot assays were performed to evaluate α- and β-ER expression in the olfactory bulb of intact, ovariectomized (OVX), and ovariectomized+estradiol (E2) replacement (OVX+E2). RESULTS: Ovariectomization showed impairment of social recognition after 9 days of EMF exposure and a complete recovery after E2 replacement and so did those after 30 days. Short EMF exposure increased expression of β-ER in intact, but not in the others. Longer exposure produced a decrease in intact but an increase in OVX and OVX+E2. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest a significant role for β-estrogen receptors and a lack of effect for α-estrogen receptors on a social recognition task. ABBREVIATIONS: EMF: extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields; ERs: estrogen receptors; OB: olfactory bulb; OVX: ovariectomized; OVX + E2: ovariectomized + estradiol replacement; IEI: interexposure interval; β-ER: beta estrogen receptor; E2: replacement of estradiol; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; WB: Western blot; PBS: phosphate-buffer saline; PB: phosphate-buffer. 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

PopulationWistar female rats (intact, ovariectomized, and ovariectomized + estradiol replacement groups)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.06 MHz · 9 or 30 days (repeated exposure)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 9 days of EMF exposure, ovariectomized rats showed impaired social recognition, with recovery after estradiol replacement; similar recovery with estradiol replacement was reported after 30 days. Short EMF exposure increased β-estrogen receptor expression in intact rats but not in ovariectomized or ovariectomized+estradiol groups; longer exposure decreased β-ER expression in intact rats and increased it in ovariectomized and ovariectomized+estradiol groups. The authors report a lack of effect for α-estrogen receptors in the social recognition task.

Outcomes measured

Social recognition behavior
Olfactory bulb estrogen receptor expression (α-ER, β-ER) assessed by immunohistochemistry and western blot

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure intensity/dose metrics (e.g., field strength) not reported in abstract
Details of social recognition testing protocol and statistical results not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.06,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "9 or 30 days (repeated exposure)"
  },
  "population": "Wistar female rats (intact, ovariectomized, and ovariectomized + estradiol replacement groups)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Social recognition behavior",
    "Olfactory bulb estrogen receptor expression (α-ER, β-ER) assessed by immunohistochemistry and western blot"
  ],
  "main_findings": "After 9 days of EMF exposure, ovariectomized rats showed impaired social recognition, with recovery after estradiol replacement; similar recovery with estradiol replacement was reported after 30 days. Short EMF exposure increased β-estrogen receptor expression in intact rats but not in ovariectomized or ovariectomized+estradiol groups; longer exposure decreased β-ER expression in intact rats and increased it in ovariectomized and ovariectomized+estradiol groups. The authors report a lack of effect for α-estrogen receptors in the social recognition task.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure intensity/dose metrics (e.g., field strength) not reported in abstract",
    "Details of social recognition testing protocol and statistical results not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "ELF EMF",
    "60 Hz",
    "social recognition",
    "olfactory bulb",
    "estrogen receptors",
    "alpha estrogen receptor",
    "beta estrogen receptor",
    "ovariectomized",
    "estradiol replacement",
    "Wistar rats"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elr-emf-animal-studies",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Animal study examining effects of 60-Hz (ELF) EMF exposure on behavior and receptor expression."
    }
  ]
}

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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: Not supplied
PubMed: Not supplied

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