Impaired memory by hippocampal oxidative stress in rats exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields is ameliorated by thymoquinone

Abstract

The protective effects of thymoquinone on learning and memory abilities and on hippocampal oxidative stress in rats exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field radiation at s strength of 6.0 ± 0.5 V/m for 1 h on each of 15 days was studied. Thymoquinone-treatment (10 mg/kg/day) of radiation-exposed rats resulted in better performance than that of radiation-exposed rats not receiving thymoquinone. Electromagnetic field-exposure led to increased hippocampal superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde levels and to lowered brain-derived neurotrophic factor level; thymoquinone treatment ameliorated all four parameters. Also, in the electromagnetic field-exposed group, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor expression decreased, and gamma-aminobutyric-acid alpha receptor expression increased, which was reversed by thymoquinone treatment. In conclusion, treatment with the thymoquinone ameliorated the impact of the exposure to EMF and provided a hint on the mechanism involving oxidative stress.

Keywords:

• 900 MHz EMF
• cognitive functions
• hippocampus
• oxidative stress
• thymoquinone

Acknowledgments

The Authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Selcuk Paker and Asst. Prof. Birsen Elibol for providing laboratory facilities and the technical support for the behavioral tests and EMF exposure.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Fund of Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey [grant number 6.2018/9].