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Effects of pulsed and sinusoidal electromagnetic fields on MMP-2, MMP-9, collagen type IV and E-cadherin expression levels in the rat kidney: an immunohistochemical study.

Analytical and quantitative cytopathology and histopathology · 2013 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4557

Rats exposed to 1.5 mT, 50 Hz sinusoidal or pulsed EMFs showed thickening of glomerular basement membranes (especially in the sinusoidal group). E-cadherin expression decreased and MMP-9 expression increased with EMF exposure, while MMP-2 and collagen type IV…

Study snapshot

PublicationAnalytical and quantitative cytopathology and histopathology · 2013
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of extremely low frequency pulsed and sinusoidal electromagnetic fields on kidney tissues. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-seven male Wistar albino rats were used. The rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 9): control group, sinusoidal electromagnetic field (SEMF) group, and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) group. The SEMF and PEMF groups (pulse time 25 microsn, pulse frequency 50 Hz) were subjected to 1.5 mT, 50 Hz, exposure 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 28 days in methacrylate boxes. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded kidney tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Gomori and periodic acid-Schiff. In addition, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9), E-cadherin and collagen type IV expression levels were examined immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Thickening of glomerular basement membranes was evident in electromagnetic fields, especially in the SEMF group. In addition, expression levels of E-cadherin were decreased with electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. The expression level of MMP-9 increased, and MMP-2 and collagen type IV expression levels were not altered with EMF exposure. CONCLUSION: Both EMFs changed the molecular component of the kidney adversely.

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 typeanimal
Effect directionharm
PopulationMale Wistar albino rats
Sample size27
ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 28 days
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to 1.5 mT, 50 Hz sinusoidal or pulsed EMFs showed thickening of glomerular basement membranes (especially in the sinusoidal group). E-cadherin expression decreased and MMP-9 expression increased with EMF exposure, while MMP-2 and collagen type IV expression were not altered.

Outcomes measured

  • Kidney histopathology (glomerular basement membrane thickening)
  • MMP-2 expression (immunohistochemistry)
  • MMP-9 expression (immunohistochemistry)
  • E-cadherin expression (immunohistochemistry)
  • Collagen type IV expression (immunohistochemistry)

Limitations

  • Animal study (rat model); human relevance not established in abstract
  • Small group sizes (n=9 per group)
  • Exposure characterization limited to field type (sinusoidal vs pulsed), 1.5 mT and 50 Hz; other dosimetry details not provided in abstract
  • Outcome assessment described as immunohistochemical; quantitative methods/statistics not reported in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 28 days"
  },
  "population": "Male Wistar albino rats",
  "sample_size": 27,
  "outcomes": [
    "Kidney histopathology (glomerular basement membrane thickening)",
    "MMP-2 expression (immunohistochemistry)",
    "MMP-9 expression (immunohistochemistry)",
    "E-cadherin expression (immunohistochemistry)",
    "Collagen type IV expression (immunohistochemistry)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 1.5 mT, 50 Hz sinusoidal or pulsed EMFs showed thickening of glomerular basement membranes (especially in the sinusoidal group). E-cadherin expression decreased and MMP-9 expression increased with EMF exposure, while MMP-2 and collagen type IV expression were not altered.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal study (rat model); human relevance not established in abstract",
    "Small group sizes (n=9 per group)",
    "Exposure characterization limited to field type (sinusoidal vs pulsed), 1.5 mT and 50 Hz; other dosimetry details not provided in abstract",
    "Outcome assessment described as immunohistochemical; quantitative methods/statistics not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF",
    "50 Hz",
    "1.5 mT",
    "pulsed electromagnetic field",
    "sinusoidal electromagnetic field",
    "kidney",
    "rat",
    "MMP-2",
    "MMP-9",
    "E-cadherin",
    "collagen type IV",
    "immunohistochemistry",
    "glomerular basement membrane"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study investigates 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 24282905

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