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Research Paper: Effects of the Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Nmda-Receptor Gene Expression and Visual Working Memory in Male Rhesus Macaques Publisher



Kazemi M1 ; Sahraei H1 ; Aliyari H2 ; Tekieh E1 ; Saberi M3 ; Tavacoli H1 ; Meftahi GH1 ; Ghanaati H4 ; Salehi M1 ; Hajnasrollah M5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Faculty of Electrical, Biomedical and Mechatronics Engineering, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Medical Imaging Centre, Imam Khomeini University Hospital, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, Academic Center for Education Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran

Source: Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Published:2018


Abstract

Introduction: The present research aimed to examine Visual Working Memory (VWM) test scores, as well as hormonal, genomic, and brain anatomic changes in the male rhesus macaques exposed to Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field (ELF-MF). Methods: Four monkeys were exposed to two different ELF-MF frequencies: 1 Hz (control) and 12 Hz (experiment) with 0.7 μT (magnitude) 4 μ/d for 30 consecutive days. Before and after the exposure, VWM test was conducted using a coated devise on a movable stand. About 10 mL of the animals' blood was obtained from their femoral vain and used to evaluate their melatonin concentration. Blood lymphocytes were used for assaying the expressions of N-Methyl-D-aspartate NMDA-receptor genes expression before and after ELF exposure. Anatomical changes of hippocampus size were also assessed using MRI images. Results: Results indicated that VWM scores in primates exposed to 12 Hz frequency ELF increased significantly. Plasma melatonin level was also increased in these animals. However, these variables did not change in the animals exposed to 1 Hz ELF. At last, expression of the NMDA receptors increased at exposure to 12 Hz frequency. However, hippocampal volume did not increase significantly in the animals exposed to both frequencies. Conclusion: In short, these results indicate that ELF (12 Hz) may have a beneficial value for memory enhancement (indicated by the increase in VWM scores). This may be due to an increase in plasma melatonin and or expression of NMDA glutamate receptors. However, direct involvement of the hippocampus in this process needs more research. © The Author(s).