The role of curcumin during pregnancy on the exposed fetuses' tissues of Wistar rats to electromagnetic field

Authors: Kalantar MH, Bayat PD, Ghaffari Khaligh S, Soleimani H

Year: 2024 Feb 17

Category: Toxicology, Reproductive Biology, Electromagnetic Field Safety

Journal: Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine

DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2024.2315214

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38366892/

Abstract

Overview

This study investigates the protective effects of curcumin (CUR) against the harmful impacts of low-frequency electromagnetic field (LF-EMF, 50 Hz) exposure during pregnancy in Wistar rats. Five male and fifteen female Wistar rats were mated and observed for pregnancy. The pregnant rats were split into six groups with differing exposures and treatments over the 21-day gestation period.

  • EMF group: Exposed to 50 Hz EMF for 30 minutes daily
  • CUR group: Administered 50 mg/kg/daily CUR intraperitoneally
  • EMF+CUR group: Received CUR and were exposed to EMF daily
  • DMSO group: Received CUR solvent (DMSO) intraperitoneally
  • Sham group: Placed in the solenoid, not exposed to EMF
  • Control group: Kept in normal conditions

After four weeks, the offspring were categorized by maternal group and sacrificed for tissue examination, focusing on hippocampal, renal, and liver tissues.

Findings

  • Exposure to EMF alone led to significant increases in necrotic areas in hippocampal tissue, hyperemia and necrosis in the kidneys (p = 0.017 and p = 0.005, respectively), and degeneration in liver tissue (p = 0.007) compared with groups receiving both EMF and CUR.
  • Administration of daily CUR during pregnancy provided marked protection to these tissues, reducing damage as compared to EMF-only exposure.

Conclusion

The research demonstrates that EMF exposure during pregnancy can significantly injure fetal brain, kidney, and liver tissues. However, curcumin acts as an effective protective agent, mitigating EMF-induced tissue injury in developing rat fetuses.

Plain Language Summary

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can penetrate body tissues and have been shown in this study to potentially lead to notable health risks, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, and fetal abnormalities. Curcumin, a compound derived from turmeric known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, can protect the body against such damage. Pregnant rats given a daily dose of curcumin were protected from the harmful effects of EMF exposure, with less tissue injury observed in their offspring. This study highlights both the risk of EMF exposure during pregnancy and a potential mitigation strategy with curcumin.

curcumin pregnancy electromagnetic field fetal health Wistar rats tissue injury EMF protection
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