Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effect of head-only sub-chronic and chronic exposure to 900-MHz GSM electromagnetic fields on spatial memory in rats med./bio.

Published in: Brain Inj 2008; 22 (13-14): 1021-1029

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of sub-chronic and chronic head exposure to 900 MHz on spatial memory of male rats.

Background/further details

30 rats each were exposed during 8 weeks (experiment 1: sub-chronic) and 24 weeks (experiment 2: chronic). Performance of exposed rats was compared with a sham exposure group, a negative control (no exposure) and a positive control (injection of scopolamine hydrobromide 0.1 mg/Kg before memory test). Effects of scopolamine involve impaired working memory in a radial-maze task.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: 45 min/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks or 24 weeks
  • SAR: 1.5 W/kg average over mass (brain)
Exposure 2: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: 15 min/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks or 24 weeks
  • SAR: 6 W/kg average over mass (brain)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 45 min/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks or 24 weeks
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 12.5 %
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup animals placed in 5 mm thick, 15 cm long plexiglas tubes with a diameter of 6 cm and a 3 cm long cone in which the rat's head was placed; antenna placed against the cone directly above the rat's head
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.5 W/kg average over mass - brain -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 15 min/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks or 24 weeks
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 12.5 %
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 6 W/kg average over mass - brain -

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The results indicate that sub-chronic and chronic exposure of rats to GSM electromagnetic fields did not induce spatial memory deficit in the 8-arm radial maze. Scopolamine treatment in the positive control rats induced spatial memory deficits in the test.

Study character:

Study funded by

Related articles