Effects of Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Neurogenesis and Cognitive Behavior in an Experimental Model of Hippocampal Injury

Abstract

Exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields may induce constant modulation in neuronal plasticity. In recent years, tremendous efforts have been made to design a suitable strategy for enhancing adult neurogenesis, which seems to be deterred due to brain senescence and several neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of ELF-EMF on neurogenesis and memory, following treatment with trimethyltin chloride (TMT) as a neurotoxicant. The mice in all groups (n = 56) were injected with BrdU during the experiment for seven consecutive days to label newborn cells. Spatial memory was assessed by the Morris water maze (MWM) test. By the end of the experiment, neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation were assessed in the hippocampus, using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Based on the findings, exposure to ELF-EMF enhanced spatial learning and memory in the MWM test. ELF-EMF exposure significantly enhanced the number of BrdU+ and NeuN+ cells in the dentate gyrus of adult mice (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, resp.). Western blot analysis revealed significant upregulation of NeuroD2 in ELF-EMF-exposed mice compared to the TMT-treated group (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that ELF-EMF might have clinical implications for the improvement of neurodegenerative processes and could help develop a novel therapeutic approach in regenerative medicine.

Effect of prenatal stress and extremely low‐frequency electromagnetic fields on anxiety‐like behavior in female rats: With an emphasis on prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

“…Regarding the impact of ELF‐EMF, the results of our study are in conflict with studies that report the neurogenesis effects of ELF‐EMF (Cuccurazzu et al., 2010 ; Gao et al., 2021 ; Podda et al., 2014 ; Sakhaie et al., 2017b ). To our knowledge, there is no study on the effects of prenatal ELF‐EMF on anxiety‐like behavior until now, and this is the first time that neurodegenerative effects of ELF‐EMF in the hippocampus and PFC are reported.…”

“…Also, anti-stress effect of ELF-EMF has been reported (Nafisi et al, 2009). Besides, neuroregenerative effects of ELF-EMF in hippocampus were reported by several studies Sakhaie et al, 2017a;Tasset et al, 2012). Furthermore, ELF-EMF has been found to increase neuroplasticity (Cichon et al, 2020;.…”

Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field as a Stress Factor—Really Detrimental?—Insight into Literature from the Last Decade

“…Studies on the rat traumatic brain injury model [ 110 ] and on rat Alzheimer’s disease model [ 49 ] have shown that ELF-MF reversed pathological brain damages and learning and memory abilities impairment. Similar effects were obtained after exposure of neurotoxin-injected mice to ELF-MF (50 Hz, 1 mT); the deficits such as neuronal maturation impairment, neurogenesis decrease, and memory disturbance decreased [ 111 ]. Studies on the beneficial effects of ELF-MF might yield fruitful insights related to clinical therapy of nervous-system-related diseases.…”

Stem cells and physical energies: can we really drive stem cell fate?

“…The activation of cellular responses and repairing systems, mediated by REMFS-induced HSF1, could represent an important approach for managing Alzheimer and other age-related diseases (Perez et al 2019, Perez et al 2008b. Within this context, the exposure to electromagnetic fields induce a constant modulation of neural system, improving learning and memory impairment by stimulating neurogenesis in mice (Sakhaie et al 2017, Leone et al 2014, and implementing the achievement of a neurogenic phenotype in PC12 cell dopaminergic model (Maioli et al 2015). When exposed to REAC technology, human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) exposed to prolonged culturing senescence, showed a significant downregulation in the expression of senescence-associated genes (p16INK4, p53, p19) and β-galactosidase (Maioli et al 2014a.…”