Drosophila oogenesis as a bio-marker responding to EMF sources

Abstract

The model biological organisms Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila virilis have been utilized to assess effects on apoptotic cell death of follicles during oogenesis and reproductive capacity (fecundity) decline. A total of 280 different experiments were performed using newly emerged flies exposed for short time daily for 3-7 d to various EMF sources including: GSM 900/1800 MHz mobile phone, 1880-1900 MHz DECT wireless base, DECT wireless handset, mobile phone-DECT handset combination, 2.44 GHz wireless network (Wi-Fi), 2.44 GHz blue tooth, 92.8 MHz FM generator, 27.15 MHz baby monitor, 900 MHz CW RF generator and microwave oven's 2.44 GHz RF and magnetic field components. Mobile phone was used as a reference exposure system for evaluating factors considered very important in dosimetry extending our published work with D. melanogaster to the insect D. virilis. Distance from the emitting source, the exposure duration and the repeatability were examined. All EMF sources used created statistically significant effects regarding fecundity and cell death-apoptosis induction, even at very low intensity levels (0.3 V/m blue tooth radiation), well below ICNIRP's guidelines, suggesting that Drosophila oogenesis system is suitable to be used as a biomarker for exploring potential EMF bioactivity. Also, there is no linear cumulative effect when increasing the duration of exposure or using one EMF source after the other (i.e. mobile phone and DECT handset) at the specific conditions used. The role of the average versus the peak E-field values as measured by spectrum analyzers on the final effects is discussed.

Mobile-phone radiation-induced perturbation of gene-expression profiling, redox equilibrium and sporadic-apoptosis control in the ovary ofDrosophila melanogaster

“…Next, 4 h postexposure, a notable increase in sporadic apoptotic cell death was detected during early (germarium 2b) and middle (stages 7-9) oogenesis. These findings not only reinforce our previous conclusions regarding the sensitivity of Drosophila ovarian tissue to RF radiation, 27 but are also consistent with earlier studies which have reported ROS-level upregulation and apoptosis activation in the germ-line cells of male rats, after their in vivo exposure to an RF field of 900 MHz. 35,36 Following a molecular-system and time-dependent specific rationale, we, next, investigated the transcriptional responses of ovarian cell sub-populations to RF radiation 2 h after the end of exposure, by a genomewide gene-expression profiling analysis and suitable correlations of the obtained data with available databases.…”

“…Among others, it may be this mobile-phone radiation-directed malfunction of yolk-protein metabolism that likely results in the observed reduction of Drosophila offspring-production efficiency, upon exposure to the particular stress, as it has been previously reported by our group. 27 Similarly, perturbation of embryonic Ratio is referred to the number of genes from our DEG list [comparison of their transcriptional activities between SE (sham exposed) and EXP (truly exposed) fly groups] divided by the total number of genes involved in each specific pathway that has been notably affected by flies' exposure to mobile-phone radiation. Threshold is determined at P value 0.05 [-log (0.05) D 1.30].…”

“…The wild type Oregon R strain of Drosophila melanogaster was maintained at 24 C, as described previously. 27 To start the experiment, newly emerged (2-4 h old after pupal eclosion) female flies (10 individuals per vial) were randomly collected and subsequently incubated in new vials with fresh medium at 24 C. Flies were maintained in opened, plastic vials, covered with cotton and fed on standard diet.…”

“…24,25 As we have previously shown, exposure of adult flies to RF radiation apart from reduction of animal's fecundity also results in induction of apoptosis in the ovary and increase of ROS whole-body content. [26][27][28] Thus, in an effort to unravel the complicated network that controls the interaction between non-ionizing radiation and ovarian cell sub-populations, we examined the critical cytopathic subroutines of oxidative stress and apoptotic death, in correlation with gene expression reprogramming, during early and middle oogenesis, after exposure of adult female flies to mobile-phone radiation.…”

Response ofCaenorhabditis elegansto wireless devices radiation exposure

“…Increased apoptotic cell death in D. melanogaster has also been found as a result of continuous or intermittent exposure to radiation from GSM mobile phones (Chavdoula et al, 2010;Margaritis et al, 2013) and also as a result of exposure to any known EMF source, including Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) router, wireless DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) phone, blue-tooth, baby monitor, MW-oven (microwave), RF (radio frequency) generator (Margaritis et al, 2013). Bessho et al (1995) first described how high magnetic fields can affect growth and fertility in Caenorhabditis elegans.…”