Abstract
Calcium binding proteins (CaBPs) such as calbindin D28-k, parvalbumin, and calretinin are able to bind Ca2+ with high affinity. Changes in Ca2+ concentrations via CaBPs can disturb Ca2+ homeostasis. Brain damage can be induced by the prolonged electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure with loss of interacellular Ca2+ balance. The present study investigated the radioprotective effect of ginseng in regard to CaBPs immunoreactivity (IR) in the hippocampus through immunohistochemistry after one-month exposure at 1.6 SAR value by comparing sham control with exposed and ginseng-treated exposed groups separately. Loss of dendritic arborization was noted with the CaBPs in the Cornu Ammonis areas as well as a decrease of staining intensity of the granule cells in the dentate gyrus after exposure while no loss was observed in the ginseng-treated group. A significant difference in the relative mean density was noted between control and exposed groups but was nonsignificant in the ginseng-treated group. Decrease in CaBP IR with changes in the neuronal staining as observed in the exposed group would affect the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit by alteration of the Ca2+ concentration which could be prevented by ginseng. Hence, ginseng could contribute as a radioprotective agent against EMF exposure, contributing to the maintenance of Ca2+ homeostasis by preventing impairment of intracellular Ca2+ levels in the hippocampus.
Highlights
Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng C.A
Labeled single neurons were noted in the stratum radiatum (SR)/stratum lacunosum (SL) region of the CA1 area of the sham control (SC) and G1.6 groups, which were characterized by arborized slender processes, most likely corresponding to the interneurons (Figure 2(a))
We evaluated the Calcium binding proteins (CaBPs) IR in the hippocampal subfields to examine the radioprotective effects of the Red Ginseng extracts (RG) extract against RF exposure at 835 MHz at specific absorption rates (SAR) 1.6 W/kg for one month at 5 hr/day
Summary
The root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, is a widely used herbal medicine with numerous efficacious effects but possessing very low rate of side effects, thereby becoming one of the top-selling natural remedies plus the most popular dietary supplement [1]. Ginseng plays an important role in the central nervous system (CNS) [2, 3] proving to be effective in the attenuation of learning deficits due to brain damage and aging in humans and animals [4,5,6,7]. Studies suggest that Rb1 protects hippocampal neurons against either ischemia [9] or glutamate-induced neurodegeneration [10], establishing ginseng as a neuroprotective agent against various experimental traumatic brain injuries leading to the possibility of its effectiveness against electromagnetic field (EMF) radiofrequency (RF) injury in the hippocampal subfields. The extensive use of mobile phones raises questions of their possible biological effects [11] due to EMF exposure, on the CNS. The influence of RF in neuronal functions, including regulation of synaptic
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