Effect of Prenatal Stress and Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure on Spatial Learning and Memory and Hippocampal BDNF Levels in Adult Male Offspring

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stress and extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) before and during pregnancy on spatial memory and BDNF levels of adult male offspring hippocampus. Methods: Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6): control group (C) (exposure to off electromagnetic field and without exposure to stressful stimuli), stress group (S) (exposure to stressful stimuli), electromagnetic field group (EMF) (exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic field), and stress and electromagnetic field group (S+EMF) (simultaneous exposure to stressors and the electromagnetic field). Animals received interventions before and during pregnancy (for 42 days). Then, on the 90th postnatal day of the offspring, spatial memory was tested using Morris water maze and BDNF levels of the hippocampus were measured by Western blotting and their serum BDNF and corticosterone levels were measured by ELISA method. Results: Stress before pregnancy and during pregnancy had no effect on spatial memory of male offspring; however, it decreased BDNF and increased serum corticostrone levels. The electromagnetic field had no effect on spatial memory and serum corticostrone and serum BDNF levels, but increased hippocampal BDNF levels. Simultaneous induction of stress with the electromagnetic field disrupted the acquisition phase of spatial memory and decreased serum BDNF levels.