Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields from Mobile Phones and Fructose Consumption Coalesce to Perturb Metabolic Regulators AMPK/SIRT1-UCP2/FOXO1 in Growing Rats

Authors: Tripathi R, Banerjee SK, Nirala JP, Mathur R

Year: 2023

Category: Metabolic Physiology, Environmental Health

Journal: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences

DOI: 10.3967/bes2023.134

URL: https://www.besjournal.com/en/article/doi/10.3967/bes2023.134

Abstract

Overview

This study investigates how combined exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from mobile phones and fructose consumption during critical development phases impacts major metabolic regulators in rats. The focus is on the AMPK/SIRT1-UCP2/FOXO1 pathway in hypothalamic and hepatic tissues, which are crucial for insulin sensitivity and metabolic homeostasis.

Methods

  • Weaned Wistar rats (28 days old) were divided into four groups:
    • Normal
    • Exposure Only (ExpO)
    • Fructose Only (FruO)
    • Exposure and Fructose (EF)
  • All groups were fed standard chow for 8 weeks.
  • Control groups had water or 15% fructose solution access.
  • Treatment groups received EMF exposure (1,760 MHz, 2 h/day for 8 weeks).
  • Assays included western blotting and biochemical analyses to measure mitochondrial function, insulin receptor signaling, and oxidative stress in the hypothalamus and liver.

Findings

  • In the hypothalamus of the EF group, significant decreases (<0.05) were found in:
    • SIRT1, FOXO1, p-PI3K, p-AKT, Complex III, UCP2, MnSOD, catalase, OXPHOS, and GSH activities
  • In the liver tissue of the EF group, significant reductions (<0.05) included:
    • p-AMPKa, SIRT1, FOXO1, IRS1, p-PI3K, Complex I-V, UCP2, MnSOD, OXPHOS, SOD, catalase, and GSH activities

Conclusion

The research reveals that simultaneous EMF exposure and fructose intake in early life can severely disrupt the interconnected signaling networks that regulate insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and antioxidant defense mechanisms in both the hypothalamus and liver. This disruption evidences a strong link between EMF exposure, metabolic dysfunction, and increased risk of insulin resistance.

electromagnetic fields mobile phones fructose insulin resistance metabolic regulators oxidative stress rats
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