Exposure Effects of Terahertz Waves on Primary Neurons and Neuron-like Cells Under Nonthermal Conditions

2019 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1657

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Exposure Effects of Terahertz Waves on Primary Neurons and Neuron-like Cells Under Nonthermal Conditions Tan SZ, Tan PC, Luo LQ, et al. Exposure Effects of Terahertz Waves on Primary Neurons and Neuron-like Cells Under Nonthermal Conditions. Biomed Environ Sci. 2019 Oct;32(10):739-754. doi: 10.3967/bes2019.094. Abstract OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the potential effects of terahertz (THz) waves on primary cultured neurons from 4 rat brain regions (hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem) and 3 kinds of neuron-like cells (MN9D, PC12, and HT22 cells) under nonthermal conditions. METHODS: THz waves with an output power of 50 (0.16 THz) and 10 (0.17 THz) mW with exposure times of 6 and 60 min were used in this study. Analysis of temperature change, neurite growth, cell membrane roughness, micromorphology, neurotransmitters and synaptic-related proteins (SYN and PSD95) was used to evaluate the potential effects. RESULTS: Temperature increase caused by the THz wave was negligible. THz waves induced significant neurotransmitter changes in primary hippocampal, cerebellar, and brainstem neurons and in MN9D and PC12 cells. THz wave downregulated SYN expression in primary hippocampal neurons and downregulated PSD95 expression in primary cortical neurons. CONCLUSION: Different types of cells responded differently after THz wave exposure, and primary hippocampal and cortical neurons and MN9D cells were relatively sensitive to the THz waves. The biological effects were positively correlated with the exposure time of the THz waves. Open access paper: besjournal.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typein_vitro

Effect directionharm

PopulationPrimary cultured neurons from rat brain regions (hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, brainstem) and neuron-like cell lines (MN9D, PC12, HT22)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureTHz · 6 and 60 min

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Temperature increase from THz exposure was reported as negligible. THz waves induced significant neurotransmitter changes in primary hippocampal, cerebellar, and brainstem neurons and in MN9D and PC12 cells, and downregulated SYN in primary hippocampal neurons and PSD95 in primary cortical neurons. Effects differed by cell type and were described as positively correlated with exposure time.

Outcomes measured

Temperature change
Neurite growth
Cell membrane roughness
Micromorphology
Neurotransmitters
Synaptic-related proteins (SYN, PSD95)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
In vitro study (primary cultures and cell lines), limiting direct inference to in vivo/human health effects
Exposure metrics beyond output power (e.g., field strength, SAR) not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "THz",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "6 and 60 min"
  },
  "population": "Primary cultured neurons from rat brain regions (hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, brainstem) and neuron-like cell lines (MN9D, PC12, HT22)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Temperature change",
    "Neurite growth",
    "Cell membrane roughness",
    "Micromorphology",
    "Neurotransmitters",
    "Synaptic-related proteins (SYN, PSD95)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Temperature increase from THz exposure was reported as negligible. THz waves induced significant neurotransmitter changes in primary hippocampal, cerebellar, and brainstem neurons and in MN9D and PC12 cells, and downregulated SYN in primary hippocampal neurons and PSD95 in primary cortical neurons. Effects differed by cell type and were described as positively correlated with exposure time.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "In vitro study (primary cultures and cell lines), limiting direct inference to in vivo/human health effects",
    "Exposure metrics beyond output power (e.g., field strength, SAR) not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "terahertz",
    "THz",
    "nonthermal",
    "primary neurons",
    "rat",
    "hippocampus",
    "cortex",
    "cerebellum",
    "brainstem",
    "MN9D",
    "PC12",
    "HT22",
    "neurotransmitters",
    "synaptophysin",
    "PSD95"
  ],
  "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: 10.3967/bes2019.094
PubMed: Not supplied

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