Effects of prenatal mobile phone radiation exposure on MMP9 expression: Implications for inflammation, oxidative stress, and sensory-motor impairment after neonatal hypoxia- ischemia in rats

Toxicol Rep · 2023 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 6748

In male offspring, the HI/Exposure group showed significantly higher MMP-9 mRNA expression than HI, SHAM, and Exposure groups. HI/Exposure also had higher TNF-α and TOC and lower TAC than HI, Exposure, and SHAM, with greater cerebral edema and infarct volume …

Study snapshot

PublicationToxicol Rep · 2023

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Objective: Non-ionizing radiofrequency radiation, which finds application in various sectors such as industry, commerce, medicine, and particularly in mobile phone technology, has emerged as a topic of significant concern during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cell phone radio-frequency (RF) radiation during pregnancy on the Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and (MMP-9) 9 expressions after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in rats. Materials and methods: Two groups were formed by randomly assigning female Wistar rats: Group 1 consisted of female rats that were not exposed to RF radiation during pregnancy, while Group 2 comprised female rats that were exposed to RF radiation during pregnancy. After delivery, male offspring were divided into four groups including: (a) SHAM, (b) Exposure (EXP), (c) hypoxia-ischemia (HI), (d) HI/Exposure (HI/EXP). Seven days after HI induction, neurobehavioral tests were performed, and then brain tissue was taken from the skull to measure MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions, inflammation, oxidative stress, infarct volume and cerebral edema. Results: MMP-9 mRNA expression in the HI/EXP group was significantly higher than the HI, SHAM and EXP groups. MMP-2 mRNA expression levels in the HI group were significantly higher than Sham and the EXP groups.TNF-α and Total oxidant capacity (TOC) levels in the HI/EXP group were significantly higher than HI, EXP and SHAM groups. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level in the HI/EXP group were significantly lower than HI, EXP and SHAM groups. Cerebral edema and infarct volume in the HI/EXP group were significantly greater than the HI group. Sensory-motor function was significantly weaker in HI/EXP as compared HI group. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that during pregnancy, exposure to mobile phone RF radiation intensifies damage from HI in rat pups by elevating MMP-9 activity.

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 directionharm

PopulationFemale Wistar rats (pregnant dams) and male offspring (rat pups) with neonatal hypoxia-ischemia model

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · during pregnancy (prenatal exposure)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

MMP-2 mRNA expression
MMP-9 mRNA expression
TNF-α
total oxidant capacity (TOC)
total antioxidant capacity (TAC)
cerebral edema
infarct volume
sensory-motor function (neurobehavioral tests)

Limitations

RF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR, exposure duration details) not reported in the provided abstract
Sample size not reported in the provided abstract
Animal model (rats) may not directly generalize to humans

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "during pregnancy (prenatal exposure)"
  },
  "population": "Female Wistar rats (pregnant dams) and male offspring (rat pups) with neonatal hypoxia-ischemia model",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "MMP-2 mRNA expression",
    "MMP-9 mRNA expression",
    "TNF-α",
    "total oxidant capacity (TOC)",
    "total antioxidant capacity (TAC)",
    "cerebral edema",
    "infarct volume",
    "sensory-motor function (neurobehavioral tests)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In male offspring, the HI/Exposure group showed significantly higher MMP-9 mRNA expression than HI, SHAM, and Exposure groups. HI/Exposure also had higher TNF-α and TOC and lower TAC than HI, Exposure, and SHAM, with greater cerebral edema and infarct volume than HI and weaker sensory-motor function than HI.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "RF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR, exposure duration details) not reported in the provided abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract",
    "Animal model (rats) may not directly generalize to humans"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency radiation",
    "mobile phone",
    "prenatal exposure",
    "pregnancy",
    "hypoxia-ischemia",
    "MMP-9",
    "MMP-2",
    "inflammation",
    "oxidative stress",
    "TNF-α",
    "cerebral edema",
    "infarct volume",
    "sensory-motor impairment",
    "rat"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "prenatal-exposure",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Study examines mobile phone RF exposure during pregnancy and outcomes in offspring."
    }
  ]
}

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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.toxrep.2023.10.007
PubMed: 37927954

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