New Study finds Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) affects anti-oxidant capacity, DNA repair genes expression and apoptosis in pregnant mouse placenta
The study “Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) affects anti-oxidant capacity, DNA repair genes expression and apoptosis in pregnant mouse placenta” concludes, “in summary, our results provide evidence that Wi-Fi signals increase oxidative stress in placenta tissue.”
Abstract
Objectives: The placenta provides nutrients and oxygen to embryo and removes waste products from embryo’s blood. As far as we know, the effects of exposure to Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) signals on placenta have not been evaluated. Hence, we examined the effect of prenatal exposure to Wi-Fi signals on anti-oxidant capacity, expressions of CDKNA1, and GADD45a as well as apoptosis in placenta and pregnancy outcome.
Materials and methods: Pregnant mice were exposed to Wi-Fi signal (2.4 GHz) for 2 and 4 hr. Placenta tissues were examined to measure the MDA and SOD levels. To measure SOD, CDKNA1, GADD45a, Bax, and Bcl-2 expressions were compared by real-time PCR analysis. TUNEL assay was used to assess apoptosis in placenta tissues. The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Prism version 6.0 software.
Results: MDA and SOD levels had significantly increased in exposed Wi-Fi signal groups (P-value< 0.05). Also, quantitative PCR experiment showed that SOD mRNA expression significantly increased in Wi-Fi signal groups. The data showed that CDKN1A and GADD45a genes were increased in Wi-Fi groups (P-value<0.05). The quantitative PCR and the TUNEL assay showed that apoptosis increased in Wi-Fi groups (P-value<0.05).
Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that Wi-Fi signals increase lipid peroxidation, SOD activity (oxidative stres), apoptosis and CDKN1A and GADD45a overexpression in mice placenta tissue. However, further experimental studies are warranted to investigate other genes and aspects of pregnancy to determine the role of Wi-Fi radiation on fertility and pregnancy.
Pubmed link and full study at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7351435/
Excerpts
“ROS are produced continuously by the placenta, and they are neutralized by antioxidants present in the tissue. Also, in order to study the role of oxidative stress in placental dysfunction, sensitive methods for the detection of oxidative stress are necessary. Oxidative stress is a critical factor in many problems during pregnancy; thus, uterine problems in pregnancy could result in an imbalance of antioxidant/oxidant activity when antioxidant capacity cannot keep pace with increased oxygen tension, leading to a chronic state of oxidative stress (23).
Previous experiments on the effects of extremely-low-frequency (ELF)-EMF on preimplantation embryos also hypothesized that the adverse effects of ELF-EMF on preimplantation embryos might be caused by the DNA damage in the embryos in vitro (24). However, as for the RF-EMF, few experiments were performed on its reproduction effects, especially on early stage pregnancy. The early stage of pregnancy is one of the most vital stages of reproduction, in which all tissues are sensitive to the toxic effects of the environment in comparison with the other steps during the life span (25). Consequently, the early stage of pregnancy placenta tissues was used in the present study to explore the possible effects of RF-EMF on reproduction.”
“In summary, our results provide evidence that Wi-Fi signals increase oxidative stress in placenta tissue. It was suggested that CDKN1A and GADD45a overexpression in the placenta tissue was caused by exposure to Wi-Fi radiation, and increase in apoptosis-positive cells and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the placenta tissue of mice were observed, especially in 4 hr- 30 cm group. However, further experimental studies are warranted to investigate other genes as well as other aspects of pregnancy to determine the role of Wi-Fi radiation on fertility and pregnancy.”
Pubmed link and full study at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7351435/
