Melatonin Modulates NMDA-Receptor 2B/Calpain-1/Caspase-12 Pathways in Rat Brain After Long Time Exposure to GSM Radiation

Authors: Seymen CM, Ilgaz C, Erdogan D, Elmas C, Yar Saglam AS, Elmazoglu Z, Sirav Aral B, Take Kaplanoglu G

Year: 2019 Jul 11

Category: Neuroscience

Journal: Turk Neurosurg

Institution: Turk Neurosurg

DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.26492-19.2

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31608966

Abstract

Overview

In this study, researchers aimed to evaluate the protective effects of melatonin against chronic radiation exposure from third-generation mobile phones on rat brains.

Materials and Methods

24 male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups.
The control group received no treatment.
One group was exposed to 2100 MHz radiation for 30 minutes.
Another received subcutaneous melatonin injections 40 minutes before radiation exposure.
Post-treatment analysis included histochemical, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural investigations, and Western blot analyses.

Findings

Radiation exposure resulted in:

Neuronal edema and decreased neuron numbers in hippocampal regions.
Displacement of Purkinje neurons and the presence of dark neurons.
Activation of the NMDA-receptor 2B/Calpain-1/Caspase-12 pathway.

Conclusion

Exposure to mobile phone radiation led to significant structural brain changes and pathway activations. While melatonin showed some effectiveness, it was not enough to fully protect against these changes.

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