Possible effects of melatonin and omega-3 on the obesity-related hypothalamic nuclei of the electromagnetic field-exposed offspring rats: a stereological and immunohistochemical analysis.

Frontiers in public health · 2025 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5892

Study snapshot

PublicationFrontiers in public health · 2025

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

AIM: The main aim of the study is to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the neuronal changes that occur in the hypothalamic nuclei of newborn male rats related to obesity during the intrauterine period, which was exposed to electromagnetic field (EMF). It was also investigating the expressions of obesity-related neuropeptide Y (NPY) and fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) in the arcuate (ARN), ventromedial (VMN), and dorsomedial nuclei (DMN). It was also aimed to examine the role of omega-3 (ω3) and melatonin (Mel) against the side effects of EMF. METHODS: Adult Wistar albino pregnant female rats were randomly divided into seven groups: Cont, Sham, EMF, EMF-Mel, EMF-ω3, Mel, and ω3. While no treatment was applied to the control group, rats in the Sham group were kept in the cage system for 2 h per day for 21 days without exposure to EMF. EMF groups were exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 2 h per day during pregnancy. Mel-treated groups received 50 mg/kg/day melatonin, while ω3-treated animals were given 0.93 g/mL ω3 via intragastric gavage. Anxiety and locomotor behaviors were assessed. Oxidative stress parameters were analyzed. Stereological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural analyses were performed on the offspring rats' hypothalamus. RESULTS: It was seen that serum superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher in the ω3 group compared to the other groups ( ≤ 0.01), and serum catalase activity was significantly higher in the EMF group compared to the Cont and EMF-ω3 groups ( ≤ 0.01). The number of neurons in the ARN was significantly lower in the EMF group compared to the Sham group ( ≤ 0.05). According to the open field test, the time spent in the peripheral zone in the EMF group was longer than in the Cont group ( ≤ 0.05); In the elevated plus maze test, the number of entries into the open area in the EMF group was lower than in the Cont group ( ≤ 0.01). Stronger anti-NPY immunoreactivity was observed in the EMF group. CONCLUSION: Prenatal exposure to mobile phones may have hypothalamic effects by inducing neurodegeneration and affecting FTO and NPY expressions. The possible therapeutic effects of Mel and ω3 were not apparent.

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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

PopulationAdult Wistar albino pregnant female rats and their newborn male offspring rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 2 h/day for 21 days during pregnancy (prenatal exposure)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Pregnant rats exposed to 900 MHz EMF (2 h/day during pregnancy) had offspring with a significantly lower number of neurons in the arcuate nucleus compared with sham. Behavioral testing showed increased peripheral-zone time in the open field and fewer open-arm entries in the elevated plus maze in the EMF group versus control, and stronger anti-NPY immunoreactivity was observed in the EMF group. The abstract concludes that melatonin and omega-3 therapeutic effects were not apparent.

Outcomes measured

Neuronal number in hypothalamic nuclei (arcuate nucleus/ARN; ventromedial nucleus/VMN; dorsomedial nucleus/DMN)
NPY (neuropeptide Y) immunoreactivity/expression
FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated gene) expression
Anxiety and locomotor behaviors (open field test; elevated plus maze)
Oxidative stress parameters (serum superoxide dismutase; serum catalase)
Ultrastructural hypothalamic changes

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the abstract
SAR/dosimetry details not provided in the abstract
Findings are from an animal model (rats), limiting direct generalization to humans
Results for FTO expression are referenced in the conclusion but not detailed in the results section of the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 h/day for 21 days during pregnancy (prenatal exposure)"
  },
  "population": "Adult Wistar albino pregnant female rats and their newborn male offspring rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Neuronal number in hypothalamic nuclei (arcuate nucleus/ARN; ventromedial nucleus/VMN; dorsomedial nucleus/DMN)",
    "NPY (neuropeptide Y) immunoreactivity/expression",
    "FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated gene) expression",
    "Anxiety and locomotor behaviors (open field test; elevated plus maze)",
    "Oxidative stress parameters (serum superoxide dismutase; serum catalase)",
    "Ultrastructural hypothalamic changes"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Pregnant rats exposed to 900 MHz EMF (2 h/day during pregnancy) had offspring with a significantly lower number of neurons in the arcuate nucleus compared with sham. Behavioral testing showed increased peripheral-zone time in the open field and fewer open-arm entries in the elevated plus maze in the EMF group versus control, and stronger anti-NPY immunoreactivity was observed in the EMF group. The abstract concludes that melatonin and omega-3 therapeutic effects were not apparent.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "SAR/dosimetry details not provided in the abstract",
    "Findings are from an animal model (rats), limiting direct generalization to humans",
    "Results for FTO expression are referenced in the conclusion but not detailed in the results section of the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "prenatal exposure",
    "900 MHz",
    "RF-EMF",
    "mobile phone",
    "hypothalamus",
    "arcuate nucleus",
    "ventromedial nucleus",
    "dorsomedial nucleus",
    "NPY",
    "FTO",
    "oxidative stress",
    "melatonin",
    "omega-3",
    "neurodegeneration",
    "behavior"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Prenatal exposure to 900 MHz EMF described as mobile phone 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: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1583097
PubMed: 40636869

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