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Long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones and Wi-Fi devices decreases plasma prolactin, progesterone, and estrogen levels but increases uterine oxidative stress in pregnant rats and their offspring

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Abstract

We investigated the effects of mobile phone (900 and 1800 MHz)- and Wi-Fi (2450 MHz)-induced electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure on uterine oxidative stress and plasma hormone levels in pregnant rats and their offspring. Thirty-two rats and their forty newborn offspring were divided into the following four groups according to the type of EMR exposure they were subjected to: the control, 900, 1800, and 2450 MHz groups. Each experimental group was exposed to EMR for 60 min/day during the pregnancy and growth periods. The pregnant rats were allowed to stand for four generations (total 52 weeks) before, plasma and uterine samples were obtained. During the 4th, 5th, and 6th weeks of the experiment, plasma and uterine samples were also obtained from the developing rats. Although uterine lipid peroxidation increased in the EMR groups, uterine glutathione peroxidase activity (4th and 5th weeks) and plasma prolactin levels (6th week) in developing rats decreased in these groups. In the maternal rats, the plasma prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone levels decreased in the EMR groups, while the plasma total oxidant status, and body temperatures increased. There were no changes in the levels of reduced glutathione, total antioxidants, or vitamins A, C, and E in the uterine and plasma samples of maternal rats. In conclusion, although EMR exposure decreased the prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone levels in the plasma of maternal rats and their offspring, EMR-induced oxidative stress in the uteri of maternal rats increased during the development of offspring. Mobile phone- and Wi-Fi-induced EMR may be one cause of increased oxidative uterine injury in growing rats and decreased hormone levels in maternal rats.

Graphical Abstract

TRPV1 cation channels are the possible molecular pathways responsible for changes in the hormone, oxidative stress, and body temperature levels in the uterus of maternal rats following a year-long exposure to electromagnetic radiation exposure from mobile phones and Wi-Fi devices. It is likely that TRPV1-mediated Ca2+ entry in the uterus of pregnant rats involves accumulation of oxidative stress and opening of mitochondrial membrane pores that consequently leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, substantial swelling of the mitochondria with rupture of the outer membrane and release of oxidants such as superoxide (O2 −) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The superoxide radical is converted to H2O2 by superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) is an important antioxidant enzyme for removing lipid hydroperoxides and hydrogen peroxide and it catalyzes the reduction of H2O2 to water.

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Abbreviations

ELF:

Extremely low electrical field

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EMR:

Electromagnetic radiation

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

GSH-Px:

Glutathione peroxidase

LH:

Luteinizing hormone

NADPH:

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

TAS:

Total antioxidant status

TOS:

Total oxidant status

WLAN:

Wireless local area network

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Acknowledgments

The Scientific Research Unit (BAP) of the Suleyman Demirel University (Project Number: 3536-TU2-13) supported this study. The authors are grateful to Muhammet Şahin (Department of Biophysics) for helping with the antioxidant and oxidant analyses. In addition, the authors wish to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selçuk Çömlekçi (Electronics and Communication Engineering, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey), for calculation of the specific absorption rates.

Author contribution

Mustafa Nazıroğlu formulated the hypothesis for the present study and wrote the report. Murat Yüksel was involved in facilitating the EMR exposure procedures as well as in managing the experimental rats. Mehmet Okan Özkaya made critical revisions to the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Murat Yüksel & Mehmet Okan Özkaya

  2. The Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey

    Mustafa Nazıroğlu

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  1. Murat Yüksel
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Correspondence to Mustafa Nazıroğlu.

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Yüksel, M., Nazıroğlu, M. & Özkaya, M.O. Long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones and Wi-Fi devices decreases plasma prolactin, progesterone, and estrogen levels but increases uterine oxidative stress in pregnant rats and their offspring. Endocrine 52, 352–362 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-015-0795-3

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