900 MHz radiofrequency-induced histopathologic changes and oxidative stress in rat endometrium: protection by vitamins E and C.

Toxicology and industrial health · 2007 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 3387

Rats exposed to 900 MHz EMR had increased endometrial NO and MDA and decreased SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities compared with controls/sham. Histopathologic changes including diffuse severe apoptosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were reported in the EMR …

Study snapshot

PublicationToxicology and industrial health · 2007

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

There are numerous reports on the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in various cellular systems. Mechanisms of adverse effects of EMR indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play a role in the biological effects of this radiation. The aims of this study were to examine 900 MHz mobile phone-induced oxidative stress that promotes production of ROS and to investigate the role of vitamins E and C, which have antioxidant properties, on endometrial tissue against possible 900 MHz mobile phone-induced endometrial impairment in rats. The animals were randomly grouped (eight each) as follows: 1) Control group (without stress and EMR, Group I), 2) sham-operated rats stayed without exposure to EMR (exposure device off, Group II), 3) rats exposed to 900 MHz EMR (EMR group, Group III) and 4) a 900 MHz EMR exposed + vitamin-treated group (EMR + Vit group, Group IV). A 900 MHz EMR was applied to EMR and EMR + Vit group 30 min/day, for 30 days using an experimental exposure device. Endometrial levels of nitric oxide (NO, an oxidant product) and malondialdehyde (MDA, an index of lipid peroxidation), increased in EMR exposed rats while the combined vitamins E and C caused a significant reduction in the levels of NO and MDA. Likewise, endometrial superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities decreased in EMR exposed animals while vitamins E and C caused a significant increase in the activities of these antioxidant enzymes. In the EMR group histopathologic changes in endometrium, diffuse and severe apoptosis was present in the endometrial surface epithelial and glandular cells and the stromal cells. Diffuse eosinophilic leucocyte and lymphocyte infiltration were observed in the endometrial stroma whereas the combination of vitamins E and C caused a significant decrease in these effects of EMR. It is concluded that oxidative endometrial damage plays an important role in the 900 MHz mobile phone-induced endometrial impairment and the modulation of oxidative stress with vitamins E and C reduces the 900 MHz mobile phone-induced endometrial damage both at biochemical and histological levels.

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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

PopulationRats (endometrium)

Sample size32

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 30 min/day for 30 days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Endometrial nitric oxide (NO) levels
Endometrial malondialdehyde (MDA) levels
Endometrial antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px)
Endometrial histopathology (apoptosis, inflammatory cell infiltration)
Effect of vitamins E and C on EMR-associated changes

Limitations

Specific exposure metrics (e.g., SAR) not reported in the abstract
Animal study; applicability to humans not addressed in the abstract
Sample size per group is small (n=8)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "30 min/day for 30 days"
  },
  "population": "Rats (endometrium)",
  "sample_size": 32,
  "outcomes": [
    "Endometrial nitric oxide (NO) levels",
    "Endometrial malondialdehyde (MDA) levels",
    "Endometrial antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px)",
    "Endometrial histopathology (apoptosis, inflammatory cell infiltration)",
    "Effect of vitamins E and C on EMR-associated changes"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 900 MHz EMR had increased endometrial NO and MDA and decreased SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities compared with controls/sham. Histopathologic changes including diffuse severe apoptosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were reported in the EMR group, and combined vitamins E and C reduced these biochemical and histological changes in the EMR+vitamin group.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Specific exposure metrics (e.g., SAR) not reported in the abstract",
    "Animal study; applicability to humans not addressed in the abstract",
    "Sample size per group is small (n=8)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "900 MHz",
    "radiofrequency",
    "mobile phone",
    "endometrium",
    "oxidative stress",
    "reactive oxygen species",
    "nitric oxide",
    "malondialdehyde",
    "SOD",
    "catalase",
    "glutathione peroxidase",
    "apoptosis",
    "vitamin E",
    "vitamin C"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study explicitly examines 900 MHz mobile phone EMR exposure 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: 10.1177/0748233707080906
PubMed: 18536493

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