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Effect of ELF-EMF on cognitive functions, analgesia, and oxidative stress in rats with PTZ-induced epilepsy.

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2025 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5870

In PTZ-induced epileptic rats, the EMF+PTZ group differed significantly from the PTZ group in learning and short-term memory (p<0.001). Analgesia latency increased in the ELF-EMF and ELF-EMF+PTZ groups compared with both control and epilepsy groups (p<0.001).…

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2025
Study typeanimal
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impacts of extremely low-frequency (ELF)-electromagnetic field (EMF) on cognitive functions and analgesia in terms of total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in the experimental pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epilepsy model. Twenty-four Wistar albino male rats were categorized into four groups: sham, EMF, PTZ, and EMF+PTZ. The rats were repeatedly exposed to alternating 50-Hz and 5-mT EMF for 165 min a day for 7 days. Epileptic seizures were induced with PTZ. The levels of oxidative stress markers were measured. Univariate multifactorial one-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey's test were used for pairwise comparisons between groups. A statistically significant difference was observed in the learning and short-term memory levels in the EMF + PTZ group compared with the PTZ group ( < 0.001). Analgesia latency statistically significantly increased in the ELF-EMF and ELF-EMF+PTZ groups compared with both the control and epilepsy groups ( < 0.001). A statistically significant increase in TOS was found in the prefrontal cortex in the PTZ group compared with the sham group ( < 0.001). Also, TOS statistically significantly increased in the hippocampus in both PTZ and ELF-EMF+ PTZ groups compared with the sham group ( < 0.001). ELF-EMF decreased the increased TOS in the hippocampus of rats in the PTZ group.

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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
PopulationWistar albino male rats with PTZ-induced epilepsy model
Sample size24
ExposureELF · 165 min/day for 7 days; alternating 50 Hz, 5 mT
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In PTZ-induced epileptic rats, the EMF+PTZ group differed significantly from the PTZ group in learning and short-term memory (p<0.001). Analgesia latency increased in the ELF-EMF and ELF-EMF+PTZ groups compared with both control and epilepsy groups (p<0.001). TOS increased in prefrontal cortex in the PTZ group vs sham (p<0.001) and in hippocampus in PTZ and EMF+PTZ vs sham (p<0.001); ELF-EMF decreased the increased hippocampal TOS in PTZ rats.

Outcomes measured

  • Cognitive functions (learning and short-term memory)
  • Analgesia latency
  • Oxidative stress markers: total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in brain regions (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus)

Limitations

  • Animal model; findings may not generalize to humans
  • Small sample size (n=24)
  • Exposure conditions limited to 50 Hz, 5 mT, 165 min/day for 7 days
  • Abstract does not report TAS results or full quantitative effect sizes for all outcomes
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "165 min/day for 7 days; alternating 50 Hz, 5 mT"
  },
  "population": "Wistar albino male rats with PTZ-induced epilepsy model",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cognitive functions (learning and short-term memory)",
    "Analgesia latency",
    "Oxidative stress markers: total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in brain regions (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In PTZ-induced epileptic rats, the EMF+PTZ group differed significantly from the PTZ group in learning and short-term memory (p<0.001). Analgesia latency increased in the ELF-EMF and ELF-EMF+PTZ groups compared with both control and epilepsy groups (p<0.001). TOS increased in prefrontal cortex in the PTZ group vs sham (p<0.001) and in hippocampus in PTZ and EMF+PTZ vs sham (p<0.001); ELF-EMF decreased the increased hippocampal TOS in PTZ rats.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal model; findings may not generalize to humans",
    "Small sample size (n=24)",
    "Exposure conditions limited to 50 Hz, 5 mT, 165 min/day for 7 days",
    "Abstract does not report TAS results or full quantitative effect sizes for all outcomes"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "5 mT",
    "pentylenetetrazole",
    "PTZ-induced epilepsy",
    "rats",
    "cognition",
    "learning",
    "short-term memory",
    "analgesia",
    "oxidative stress",
    "TOS",
    "TAS",
    "hippocampus",
    "prefrontal cortex"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Study uses 50 Hz ELF magnetic field exposure (relevant to power-frequency 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: 10.1080/15368378.2025.2593267
PubMed: 41310382

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