Investigating the effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on molecular pathways related to insulin resistance and adipogenesis in zebrafish embryos - A pilot study without quantitative exposure metrics.

The Science of the total environment · 2024 · Harm · Very low evidence

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HarmVery low evidencePaper 5831

Study snapshot

PublicationThe Science of the total environment · 2024

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

In recent years, obesity has become a global problem in children and adolescents, in parallel with the rapid increase in the use of information and communication technology. Recognizing the embryonic causes of obesity may help prevent adverse adult health outcomes. In our study, we hypothesized that radiofrequency-electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure during embryogenesis would affect the molecular mechanisms related to adipogenesis and insulin resistance in zebrafish. To achieve this, we set up a system that emits RF-EMF in the 900 MHz band and subjected zebrafish embryos to its RF-EMF. We created two groups in which we exposed 30 min (EMF-30) and 60 min (EMF-60) per day, and a control group that was not exposed to RF-EMF. We ended the exposure at 96 hpf and analyzed the expression of lepa, ins, and pparg that are involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. In addition, we analyzed oxidative stress parameters, embryonic development, and locomotor activity. We found decreased mRNA transcript abundance of lepa, ins, pparg, and activities of superoxide dismutase and acetylcholine esterase, along with increased lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and glutathione S-transferase (GST). Locomotor activity increased in the EMF-30 group and decreased in the EMF-60 group. Our results showed that exposure to RF-EMF during the embryonic period disrupted the molecular pathways related to insulin resistance and adipogenesis in zebrafish. However, due to limited available resources, we were not able to appropriately quantify the actual RF exposure strength of the samples. Hence the results reported here should only be seen as preliminary, and further studies employing high quality exposure apparatus and dosimetry should be carried out in future.

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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

PopulationZebrafish embryos

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 30 min/day (EMF-30) or 60 min/day (EMF-60) until 96 hpf

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Zebrafish embryos exposed to 900 MHz RF-EMF (30 or 60 min/day) showed decreased mRNA transcript abundance of lepa, ins, and pparg, decreased SOD and acetylcholine esterase activities, and increased LPO, NO, and GST. Locomotor activity increased in the EMF-30 group and decreased in the EMF-60 group. Authors conclude RF-EMF exposure during embryogenesis disrupted molecular pathways related to insulin resistance and adipogenesis, but note exposure strength was not quantified and results are preliminary.

Outcomes measured

mRNA transcript abundance of lepa
mRNA transcript abundance of ins
mRNA transcript abundance of pparg
superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity
acetylcholine esterase activity
lipid peroxidation (LPO)
nitric oxide (NO)
glutathione S-transferase (GST)
embryonic development
locomotor activity

Limitations

Actual RF exposure strength was not appropriately quantified (no dosimetry/quantitative exposure metrics).
Pilot/preliminary study; authors call for higher-quality exposure apparatus and dosimetry in future studies.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "30 min/day (EMF-30) or 60 min/day (EMF-60) until 96 hpf"
  },
  "population": "Zebrafish embryos",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "mRNA transcript abundance of lepa",
    "mRNA transcript abundance of ins",
    "mRNA transcript abundance of pparg",
    "superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity",
    "acetylcholine esterase activity",
    "lipid peroxidation (LPO)",
    "nitric oxide (NO)",
    "glutathione S-transferase (GST)",
    "embryonic development",
    "locomotor activity"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Zebrafish embryos exposed to 900 MHz RF-EMF (30 or 60 min/day) showed decreased mRNA transcript abundance of lepa, ins, and pparg, decreased SOD and acetylcholine esterase activities, and increased LPO, NO, and GST. Locomotor activity increased in the EMF-30 group and decreased in the EMF-60 group. Authors conclude RF-EMF exposure during embryogenesis disrupted molecular pathways related to insulin resistance and adipogenesis, but note exposure strength was not quantified and results are preliminary.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Actual RF exposure strength was not appropriately quantified (no dosimetry/quantitative exposure metrics).",
    "Pilot/preliminary study; authors call for higher-quality exposure apparatus and dosimetry in future studies."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic field",
    "RF-EMF",
    "900 MHz",
    "zebrafish embryos",
    "adipogenesis",
    "insulin resistance",
    "lepa",
    "ins",
    "pparg",
    "oxidative stress",
    "locomotor activity",
    "dosimetry limitation"
  ],
  "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: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176038
PubMed: 39245375

Read the original paper →

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