Impact of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on neuroinflammation and synaptic protein development in prenatal and postnatal rat brains

Abstract

Brain development during prenatal and postnatal periods is critical, and external stressors such as electromagnetic fields can significantly influence this process. Although there are numerous studies on this topic, our understanding of how electromagnetic fields affect the central nervous system remains limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) on the developing brains of Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were exposed to 50 Hz, 500 μT ELF-MF during prenatal, postnatal, or both periods. Using ELISA, we assessed inflammatory markers and synaptic protein levels in two brain regions. Combined prenatal and postnatal exposure to ELF-MF significantly increased IL-17A levels in the hippocampus and cortex and elevated IFN-γ levels in the cortex. However, there was no change in IL-4 levels. Additionally, in the combined prenatal and postnatal exposure group, ELF-MF significantly reduced PSD-95 levels in both the cortex and hippocampus, and Syn1 levels in the hippocampus. Our results suggest that ELF-MF may trigger inflammation in the brains of young rats, potentially impairing synaptic transmission, particularly in the hippocampus where reduced Syn1 may limit presynaptic neurotransmitter release. This study provides new insights into the impact of ELF-MF on brain development and underscores the need for further research in this field