Extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields induce apoptotic, oxidative stress, inflammatory and aquaporin-related kidney alteration

Journal of Molecular Histology · 2026 · Harm · Very low evidence

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HarmVery low evidencePaper 6898

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of Molecular Histology · 2026

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields are used as a biotherapy method in various medical and experimental applications. However, the cellular effects of prolonged or intense exposure remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different ELF-PEMF doses on kidney tissue over an 8 week period, investigating oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and aquaporin expression using biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical methods. Forty male rats were assigned to control, sham, 1 mT, and 5 mT groups; the 1 mT and 5 mT groups were exposed to ELF-PEMF for four hours daily for eight weeks, while controls received no intervention. At the end of the experiment, kidney tissues were collected for histopathological (H&E and PAS), immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses. In kidney tissue exposed to ELF-PEMF, hyperemia, tubular degeneration, and proteinaceous casts were observed. 1 mT and 5 mT ELF-PEMF exposure increased BAX, Caspase-9, and TNF-α immunoreactivity compared to the control and sham groups, while no change was observed in BCL-2 expression. 5 mT group exposure to ELF-PEMF increased AQP3 expression, a critical water channel in cellular H2O2 permeability (p < 0.05). AQP5 expression was significantly increased in both the 1 mT and 5 mT groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Biochemical analyses showed that oxidative stress levels were significantly increased in both the 1 mT and 5 mT groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that, despite its recent use for its therapeutic properties, long-term exposure to ELF-PEMF may cause oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in renal tissue and alter the histological structure and cellular homeostasis.

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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

PopulationForty male rats assigned to control, sham, 1 mT ELF-PEMF, and 5 mT ELF-PEMF groups

Sample size40

ExposureELF · 4 hours daily for 8 weeks

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 93% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Kidney tissue exposed to 1 mT and 5 mT ELF-PEMF showed hyperemia, tubular degeneration, and proteinaceous casts. ELF-PEMF increased BAX, Caspase-9, TNF-α, AQP5, and oxidative stress markers; 5 mT exposure also increased AQP3, while BCL-2 did not change. The authors conclude that long-term ELF-PEMF exposure may cause oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and altered renal histology and cellular homeostasis in rats.

Outcomes measured

kidney histopathology
hyperemia
tubular degeneration
proteinaceous casts
BAX immunoreactivity
Caspase-9 immunoreactivity
TNF-α immunoreactivity
BCL-2 expression
AQP3 expression
AQP5 expression
oxidative stress

Limitations

Animal study in male rats
Exposure frequency was not stated in the abstract
Only two ELF-PEMF magnetic flux density groups, 1 mT and 5 mT, were evaluated
Study duration was 8 weeks

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "4 hours daily for 8 weeks"
  },
  "population": "Forty male rats assigned to control, sham, 1 mT ELF-PEMF, and 5 mT ELF-PEMF groups",
  "sample_size": 40,
  "outcomes": [
    "kidney histopathology",
    "hyperemia",
    "tubular degeneration",
    "proteinaceous casts",
    "BAX immunoreactivity",
    "Caspase-9 immunoreactivity",
    "TNF-α immunoreactivity",
    "BCL-2 expression",
    "AQP3 expression",
    "AQP5 expression",
    "oxidative stress"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Kidney tissue exposed to 1 mT and 5 mT ELF-PEMF showed hyperemia, tubular degeneration, and proteinaceous casts. ELF-PEMF increased BAX, Caspase-9, TNF-α, AQP5, and oxidative stress markers; 5 mT exposure also increased AQP3, while BCL-2 did not change. The authors conclude that long-term ELF-PEMF exposure may cause oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and altered renal histology and cellular homeostasis in rats.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal study in male rats",
    "Exposure frequency was not stated in the abstract",
    "Only two ELF-PEMF magnetic flux density groups, 1 mT and 5 mT, were evaluated",
    "Study duration was 8 weeks"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.93,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-PEMF",
    "extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields",
    "kidney",
    "renal tissue",
    "rats",
    "oxidative stress",
    "apoptosis",
    "inflammation",
    "aquaporin",
    "AQP3",
    "AQP5",
    "BAX",
    "Caspase-9",
    "TNF-α"
  ],
  "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: 10.1007/s10735-026-10883-3
PubMed: Not supplied

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