Effects of 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation on ghrelin, nesfatin-1, and irisin level in diabetic and healthy brains

Hava Bektas; Sermin Algul; Fikret Altindag; Korkut Yegin; Mehmet Zulkuf Akdag; Suleyman Dasdag

doi:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102168

Effects of 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation on ghrelin, nesfatin-1, and irisin level in diabetic and healthy brains

J Chem Neuroanat. 2022 Dec:126:102168. doi: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102168. Epub 2022 Oct 8.

Authors

Hava Bektas¹, Sermin Algul², Fikret Altindag³, Korkut Yegin⁴, Mehmet Zulkuf Akdag⁵, Suleyman Dasdag⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biophysics, Medical School of Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
² Department of Physiology, Medical School of Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
³ Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
⁴ Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, Turkey.
⁵ Department of Biophysics, Medical School of Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
⁶ Department of Biophysics, Medical School of Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: sdasdag@gmail.com.

PMID: 36220504
DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102168

Abstract

Diabetes, mobile phone use, and obesity have increased simultaneously in recent years. The radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted from mobile phones is largely absorbed in the heads of users. With 5 G, which has started to be used in some countries without the necessary precautions being taken, the amount of RFR to which living things are exposed will increase. In this study, the changes in energy homeostasis and redox balance caused by 5 G (3.5 GHz, GSM-modulated) were explored. The effects of RFR on the brains of diabetic and healthy rats were investigated and histopathological analysis was performed. Twenty-eight Wistar albino rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into 4 groups as sham, RFR, diabetes, and RFR+diabetes groups (n = 7). The rats in each group were kept in a plexiglass carousel for 2 h a day for 30 days. While the rats in the experimental groups were exposed to RFR for 2 h a day, the rats in the sham group were kept under the same experimental conditions but with the radiofrequency generator turned off. At the end of the experiment, brain tissues were collected from euthanized rats. Total antioxidant (TAS), total oxidant (TOS), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), ghrelin, nesfatin-1, and irisin levels were determined. In addition, histopathological analyses of the brain tissues were performed. The specific absorption rate in the gray matter of the brain was calculated as 323 mW/kg and 195 mW/kg for 1 g and 10 g averaging, respectively. After RFR exposure among diabetic and healthy rats, decreased TAS levels and increased TOS and H₂O₂ levels were observed in brain tissues. RFR caused increases in ghrelin and irisin and a decrease in nesfatin-1 in the brain. It was also observed that RFR increased the number of degenerated neurons in the hippocampus. Our results indicate that 3.5 GHz RFR causes changes in the energy metabolism and appetite of both healthy and diabetic rats. Thus, 5 G may not be innocent in terms of its biological effects, especially in the presence of diabetes.

Keywords: Brain; Diabetes; Ghrelin; Irisin; Nesfatin-1; Radiofrequency radiation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain* / metabolism
Brain* / radiation effects
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental* / metabolism
Fibronectins* / metabolism
Ghrelin* / metabolism
Hydrogen Peroxide
Radio Waves*
Rats
Rats, Wistar

Substances

Fibronectins
Ghrelin
Hydrogen Peroxide
Nucb2 protein, rat