Analysis of thiol/disulphide homeostasis and oxidant-antioxidant status as a result of exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields

ABSTRACT

The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of daily long-term radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMFs) exposure on thiol/disulphide homeostasis and oxidant-antioxidant status in the serum of rats. Fourteen male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two equal groups (n = 7). They were grouped as group 1 (sham-control) and group 2 (2100 MHz exposed). Group 2 rats were exposed to GSM-like signals for 5 h/day, 7 days per week for 14 days. In serum of blood samples, the native, total and native/total thiol levels and antioxidant-oxidant parameters were analyzed. The study revealed that the mean serum total thiol levels of GSM exposure group was rather higher than sham-control group (p = 0,219); the mean serum native thiol levels of GSM exposure group was rather higher than sham-control group (p = 0,416), and the mean serum disulphide levels of GSM exposure group was rather higher than sham-control group (p = 0,566). On the other hand, the mean serum total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) of GSM exposure group were higher than sham-control group. There are no data in the literature, that examine the effects of RF-EMFs on thiol/disulphide homeostasis. The results of this study, indicate that RF-EMFs did not cause oxidative stress and statistically changes in thiol/disulphide homeostasis. More sample sizes and longer-term exposures are needed to confirm the results of this study.

KEYWORDS:

• Antioxidant status
• GSM-like
• Oxidative stress
• RF-EMFs
• Thiol/disulphide homeostasis

Conflicts of interest

The authors states that there is no conflict of interest.

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no funding to report.