Effects of electromagnetic fields on reelin and Dab1 expression in the developing cerebral cortex.

Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2014 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4704

No significant change in total protein concentration was observed in EMF-treated cerebral cortex samples versus sham and control. Reelin and Dab1 expression increased in the EMF-treated cerebral cortex extracts compared with controls and sham.

Study snapshot

PublicationNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2014

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Many studies describe the biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) including brain damages, neuronal migration and neurogenesis within the central nervous system. Neuronal cell produced in the neuroepithelium migrates along radial glial fibers into the cortical plate. Reelin, which is produced by Cajal-Retzius cells directs neuronal migration. It was shown that Disabled 1 (Dab1) functions downstream of reelin signal transduction pathway that directs the correct cytoarchitecture of the developing cortex. In this study, the EMF effects on total protein concentration (TPC), reelin and Dab1 expression in the developing cortex was studied. 30 pregnant Balb/c mice were separated into three groups: control (n = 10), EMF (n = 10) and SHAM groups (n = 10). The 15-day pregnant mice were placed inside the solenoid for a daily EMF exposure of 5 h for 3 consecutive days (15-17). The SHAM group was also located in the same coil with no exposure. Mice were sacrificed 24 h after the final exposure session. TPC, reelin and Dab1 expression were studied by Bio-Rad protein assay and western blot. No significant change in the TPC was seen in the EMF-treated cerebral cortex samples compared with those from the SHAM and control groups. It was also shown that the reelin and Dab1 expression increases in the EMF-treated cerebral cortex extracts as compared to controls and SHAM group. It is concluded that EMF may play important role in the neural cell migration by increasing reelin and Dab1 expression in the developing cortex.

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 directionmixed

PopulationPregnant Balb/c mice (developing fetal cerebral cortex)

Sample size30

Exposure5 h/day for 3 consecutive days (gestational days 15–17); sacrificed 24 h after final exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Total protein concentration (TPC)
Reelin expression (western blot)
Disabled 1 (Dab1) expression (western blot)

Limitations

EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength, SAR) not reported in the abstract
Short exposure window and short follow-up (24 h after final exposure)
Outcome measures limited to protein concentration and two protein expression markers; no direct functional/behavioral endpoints reported

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "solenoid (coil) exposure",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "5 h/day for 3 consecutive days (gestational days 15–17); sacrificed 24 h after final exposure"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant Balb/c mice (developing fetal cerebral cortex)",
  "sample_size": 30,
  "outcomes": [
    "Total protein concentration (TPC)",
    "Reelin expression (western blot)",
    "Disabled 1 (Dab1) expression (western blot)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "No significant change in total protein concentration was observed in EMF-treated cerebral cortex samples versus sham and control. Reelin and Dab1 expression increased in the EMF-treated cerebral cortex extracts compared with controls and sham.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength, SAR) not reported in the abstract",
    "Short exposure window and short follow-up (24 h after final exposure)",
    "Outcome measures limited to protein concentration and two protein expression markers; no direct functional/behavioral endpoints reported"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "EMF",
    "pregnancy",
    "developing cerebral cortex",
    "neuronal migration",
    "reelin",
    "Dab1",
    "Balb/c mice",
    "western blot",
    "sham control"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "animal-studies",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Experimental EMF exposure study in pregnant mice assessing molecular markers in developing cortex."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1007/s10072-014-1690-z
PubMed: 24584565

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