Evaluation of the neuroprotective effects of electromagnetic fields and coenzyme Q on hippocampal injury in mouse.

Journal of cellular physiology · 2019 · Mixed · Very low evidence

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MixedVery low evidencePaper 5591

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of cellular physiology · 2019

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are reported to interfere with chemical reactions involving free radical production. Coenzyme Q (CoQ10) is a strong antioxidant with some neuroprotective activities. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the neuroprotective effects of EMF and CoQ10 in a mouse model of hippocampal injury. Hippocampal injury was induced in mature female mice (25-30 g), using an intraperitoneal injection of trimethyltin hydroxide (TMT; 2.5 mg/kg). The experimental groups were exposed to EMF at a frequency of 50 Hz and intensity of 5.9 mT for 7 hr daily over 1 week or treated with CoQ10 (10 mg/kg) for 2 weeks following TMT injection. A Morris water maze apparatus was used to assess learning and spatial memory. Nissl staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) tests were also performed for the histopathological analysis of the hippocampus. Antiapoptotic genes were studied, using the Western blot technique. The water maze test showed memory improvement following treatment with CoQ10 and coadministration of CoQ10 + EMF. The Nissl staining and TUNEL tests indicated a decline in necrotic and apoptotic cell count following treatment with CoQ10 and coadministration of CoQ10 + EMF. The Western blot study indicated the upregulation of antiapoptotic genes in treatment with CoQ10, as well as coadministration. Also, treatment with EMF had no significant effects on reducing damage induced by TMT in the hippocampus. According to the results, EMF had no significant neuroprotective effects in comparison with CoQ10 on hippocampal injury in mice. Nevertheless, coadministration of EMF and CoQ10 could improve the neuroprotective effects of CoQ10.

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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

PopulationMature female mice (25–30 g) with trimethyltin hydroxide (TMT)-induced hippocampal injury

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 7 hr daily over 1 week

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In the Morris water maze, memory improved with CoQ10 and with coadministration of CoQ10 + EMF. Nissl and TUNEL analyses showed reduced necrotic and apoptotic cell counts with CoQ10 and with CoQ10 + EMF, while EMF alone had no significant effect on reducing TMT-induced hippocampal damage; Western blot indicated upregulation of antiapoptotic genes with CoQ10 and with coadministration.

Outcomes measured

Learning and spatial memory (Morris water maze)
Hippocampal histopathology (Nissl staining)
Apoptosis (TUNEL)
Antiapoptotic gene/protein expression (Western blot)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Only one EMF exposure condition reported (50 Hz, 5.9 mT; 7 hr/day for 1 week)
Animal model with chemically induced injury (TMT) may limit generalizability
Publication type indicates the article is retracted

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "7 hr daily over 1 week"
  },
  "population": "Mature female mice (25–30 g) with trimethyltin hydroxide (TMT)-induced hippocampal injury",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Learning and spatial memory (Morris water maze)",
    "Hippocampal histopathology (Nissl staining)",
    "Apoptosis (TUNEL)",
    "Antiapoptotic gene/protein expression (Western blot)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In the Morris water maze, memory improved with CoQ10 and with coadministration of CoQ10 + EMF. Nissl and TUNEL analyses showed reduced necrotic and apoptotic cell counts with CoQ10 and with CoQ10 + EMF, while EMF alone had no significant effect on reducing TMT-induced hippocampal damage; Western blot indicated upregulation of antiapoptotic genes with CoQ10 and with coadministration.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Only one EMF exposure condition reported (50 Hz, 5.9 mT; 7 hr/day for 1 week)",
    "Animal model with chemically induced injury (TMT) may limit generalizability",
    "Publication type indicates the article is retracted"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "5.9 mT",
    "coenzyme Q10",
    "CoQ10",
    "hippocampal injury",
    "trimethyltin",
    "mouse",
    "Morris water maze",
    "TUNEL",
    "Nissl staining",
    "apoptosis",
    "neuroprotection"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Uses 50 Hz ELF magnetic field exposure, relevant to ELF exposure contexts (though not explicitly occupational)."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1002/jcp.28512
PubMed: 30932191

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