The immunohistochemical and structural effects of carnitine on oxidative stress in electromagnetic field exposed rat brains

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of carnitine on apoptosis and oxidative stres in electromagnetic field (EMF) exposed rat brains.In this study, male Wistar rats (250-300 g) were used. Rats were divided in three groups; group I: Sham group (n=10) was not exposed to EMF. Group II was exposed to EMF and received physiological saline solution for 30 days (EMF+S, n=10, 1 ml/kg, po). Group III was exposed to EMF and received L-carnitine for 30 days (EMF+CAR, n=10, 300 mg/kg, po). Rats in EMF+S and EMF+CAR groups were exposed to 50 Hz, 3 mT EMF for 30 days (4 h/day). Subsequently, oxidative stress markers (malonedialdehid; MDA), antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase; SOD and glutathione peroxidase; GPx), TUNEL and active-anticaspase-3 immunohistochemistry for apoptosis were examined in each group. All data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) post hoc Bonferroni test. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.MDA levels in prefrontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus regions were significantly higher in EMF+S rats than those in sham and EMF+CAR rats. SOD and GPx enzyme activities in all brain regions were significantly higher in sham and EMF+CAR rats than those in EMF+S rats. Apoptotic cell death was increased in EMF+S group. The results of sham and EMF+CAR rats were similar.In conclusion, the protective effect of carnitine on EMF-induced damage in brain tissue was demonstrated firstly in the present study. Carnitine exhibits antiapoptotic effect via its antioxidative properties.Key words: Electromagnetic field, brain, oxidative stress, apoptosis, carnitine