Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Radiation Alters Estrogen Release from the Pig Myometrium during the Peri-Implantation Period.

Ewa Monika Drzewiecka,Pawel Jozef Wydorski,Anita Franczak,Wiktoria Kozlowska,Agata Zmijewska

doi:10.3390/ijms22062920

Ewa Monika Drzewiecka, Pawel Jozef Wydorski + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22062920

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Abstract

An electromagnetic field (EMF) may affect the functions of uterine tissues. This study hypothesized that EMF changes the estrogenic activity of pig myometrium during the peri-implantation period. Tissue was collected on days 15–16 of the gestation and incubated in the presence of EMF (50 and 120 Hz, 2 and 4 h). The cytochrome P450 aromatase type 3 (CYP19A3) and hydroxysteroid 17β dehydrogenase type 4 (HSD17B4) mRNA transcript abundance, cytochrome P450arom (aromatase), and 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 17βHSD) protein abundance and estrone (E1) and estradiol-17β (E2) release were examined using Real-Time PCR, Western blot and radioimmunoassay. Selected myometrial slices were treated with progesterone (P4) to determine whether it functions as a protector against EMF. CYP19A3 mRNA transcript abundance in slices treated with EMF was less at 50 Hz (2 h) and greater at 120 Hz (2 and 4 h). HSD17B4 mRNA transcript was greater in slices treated with EMF at 120 Hz (2 h). Progesterone diminished EMF-related effects on CYP19A3 and HSD17B4. When P4 was added, EMF had suppressive (50 and 120 Hz, 2 h) or enhancing (50 Hz, 4 h) effects on aromatase abundance. The E1 release was lower after 4 h of EMF treatment at 50 Hz and P4 did not protect myometrial E1 release. In conclusion, EMF alters the synthesis and release of E1 and did not affect E2 release in the myometrium during the peri-implantation period.

Highlights

Estrogens are key regulators of female reproduction which affect corpus luteum (CL)lifespan, uterine receptivity, and are involved in embryo-maternal interactions [1,2,3,4,5]
The relative abundance of CYP19A3 and HSD17B4 mRNA transcripts was affected by the interaction between an electromagnetic field (EMF) treatment and the treatment duration (p = 0.03, and p = 0.0002, respectively)
The relative abundance of CYP19A3 mRNA transcript was affected by the interaction between the treatment duration with the EMF and P4 inclusion (p = 0.0002)

Summary

Introduction

Estrogens are key regulators of female reproduction which affect corpus luteum (CL)lifespan, uterine receptivity, and are involved in embryo-maternal interactions [1,2,3,4,5]. The EMF at frequencies ranging from 50 to 120 Hz is generated by most electrical devices used in an everyday manner [21]. It has been well-documented that EMF at a frequency of 50 Hz and 120 Hz may cause DNA damage, induce structural, morphometric and physiological changes in testes, decrease the rate of fetal development, induce changes in brain protein conformation and generate alterations in signal transduction mechanisms involved in learning capacity and memory processes and induce anti-inflammatory responses [22,23,24,25,26]. In estrous-cyclic pigs, during the mid-luteal phase of the estrous cycle, an EMF at a frequency of 50 and 120 Hz increased myometrial estradiol-17β (E2 ) release within

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