Melatonin and omega-3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field
The electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by electronic devices induces pathological changes in tissues, adversely affecting embryonic and pubertal development. This study investigates the effects of melatonin (Mel) and omega-3 fatty acids (ω3) on the spinal cord in rats exposed to EMF, employing ste...
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Association of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules & Biomedicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12633 |
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| author | Ömür Gülsüm Deniz Gamze Altun Süleyman Kaplan |
| author_facet | Ömür Gülsüm Deniz Gamze Altun Süleyman Kaplan |
| author_sort | Ömür Gülsüm Deniz |
| collection | DOAJ |
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The electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by electronic devices induces pathological changes in tissues, adversely affecting embryonic and pubertal development. This study investigates the effects of melatonin (Mel) and omega-3 fatty acids (ω3) on the spinal cord in rats exposed to EMF, employing stereological methods alongside light and electron microscopic evaluations. Pregnant Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups: Control (CONT), sham-exposed (SHAM), EMF alone, EMF-Mel, EMF-ω3, Mel only, and ω3 only. The EMF, EMF-Mel, and EMF-ω3 groups were exposed to a 900 MHz EMF for two hours daily during the prenatal period (21 days). Mel and ω3 were administered via intragastric gavage prior to EMF exposure. Upon completion of the experiment (on the 35th day post-birth), spinal cord tissues of all male offspring were dissected and subjected to light and ultrastructural examinations. Stereological analyses calculated grey matter (GM) to total volume ratios, white matter (WM) to total volume ratios, GM to WM volume ratios, total spinal cord volume, and motor neuron counts. No significant differences were observed among the groups regarding GM/WM volume ratios, GM/total volume ratios, WM/total volume ratios, and total spinal cord volume (p > 0.05). However, a significant reduction in motor neuron numbers was noted in the EMF-ω3 group compared to the CONT group (p < 0.01). Light and ultrastructural examinations revealed marked motor neuron degeneration and axonal disruption in the EMF group, which were mitigated in the Mel and ω3-treated groups. These findings indicate that prenatal exposure to 900 MHz EMF exerts detrimental effects on spinal cord tissue and underscore the necessity for further studies exploring varying doses and durations to elucidate the potential effects of ω3 and Mel.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-79613dbe21a74e23b63e32a2e3194bcf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2831-0896 2831-090X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Association of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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| series | Biomolecules & Biomedicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-79613dbe21a74e23b63e32a2e3194bcf2025-08-20T03:31:02ZengAssociation of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBiomolecules & Biomedicine2831-08962831-090X2025-07-0110.17305/bb.2025.12633Melatonin and omega-3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic fieldÖmür Gülsüm Deniz0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9254-175XGamze Altun1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3959-9893Süleyman Kaplan2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1477-5002Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu, TürkiyeDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, TürkiyeDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Türkiye The electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by electronic devices induces pathological changes in tissues, adversely affecting embryonic and pubertal development. This study investigates the effects of melatonin (Mel) and omega-3 fatty acids (ω3) on the spinal cord in rats exposed to EMF, employing stereological methods alongside light and electron microscopic evaluations. Pregnant Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups: Control (CONT), sham-exposed (SHAM), EMF alone, EMF-Mel, EMF-ω3, Mel only, and ω3 only. The EMF, EMF-Mel, and EMF-ω3 groups were exposed to a 900 MHz EMF for two hours daily during the prenatal period (21 days). Mel and ω3 were administered via intragastric gavage prior to EMF exposure. Upon completion of the experiment (on the 35th day post-birth), spinal cord tissues of all male offspring were dissected and subjected to light and ultrastructural examinations. Stereological analyses calculated grey matter (GM) to total volume ratios, white matter (WM) to total volume ratios, GM to WM volume ratios, total spinal cord volume, and motor neuron counts. No significant differences were observed among the groups regarding GM/WM volume ratios, GM/total volume ratios, WM/total volume ratios, and total spinal cord volume (p > 0.05). However, a significant reduction in motor neuron numbers was noted in the EMF-ω3 group compared to the CONT group (p < 0.01). Light and ultrastructural examinations revealed marked motor neuron degeneration and axonal disruption in the EMF group, which were mitigated in the Mel and ω3-treated groups. These findings indicate that prenatal exposure to 900 MHz EMF exerts detrimental effects on spinal cord tissue and underscore the necessity for further studies exploring varying doses and durations to elucidate the potential effects of ω3 and Mel. https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12633Electromagnetic fieldneuroprotectionphysical disectorCavalieri principleultrastructurespinal cord |
| spellingShingle | Ömür Gülsüm Deniz Gamze Altun Süleyman Kaplan Melatonin and omega-3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field Biomolecules & Biomedicine Electromagnetic field neuroprotection physical disector Cavalieri principle ultrastructure spinal cord |
| title | Melatonin and omega-3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field |
| title_full | Melatonin and omega-3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field |
| title_fullStr | Melatonin and omega-3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field |
| title_full_unstemmed | Melatonin and omega-3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field |
| title_short | Melatonin and omega-3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field |
| title_sort | melatonin and omega 3 neuroprotection in prenatal rat spinal cord exposed to 900 mhz electromagnetic field |
| topic | Electromagnetic field neuroprotection physical disector Cavalieri principle ultrastructure spinal cord |
| url | https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12633 |
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