Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Continuous exposure to 900MHz GSM-modulated EMF alters morphological maturation of neural cells med./bio.

By: Del Vecchio G, Giuliani A, Fernandez M, Mesirca P, Bersani F, Pinto R, Ardoino L, Lovisolo GA, Giardino L, Calza L

Published in: Neurosci Lett 2009; 455 (3): 173-177

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: 1, 2 or 3 days for SN56 cell line; 1 to 6 days for cortical neurons	SAR: 1 W/kg

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	1, 2 or 3 days for SN56 cell line; 1 to 6 days for cortical neurons

Exposure source	TEM cell
Setup	couple of 14 cm wide TEM cells that produce a transverse electromagnetic field

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1 W/kg	-	-	-	-

Exposed system:

molecular biosynthesis: mRNA expression of cytoskeleton regulating factors, e.g. beta-thymosin (linked to neurite outgrowth regulation), and of stress-related early response genes (c-Fos and c-Jun); semiquantitative Real-time PCR
morphol./histopathol. changes: neuronal phenotype maturation (neurite length, number of neurites, sprouting, outgrowth and branching) (beta-tubulin staining; inverted microscopy and fluorescence microscopy

Investigated system:

Time of investigation:

The data showed that radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure reduced the number of neurites generated by both cell systems, and this alteration correlates to increased gene expression of beta-thymosin. Gene expression of c-Fos and c-Jun was not affected by exposure. Additionally, neither neurite length nor branching was affected by exposure.
The alteration of beta-thymosin expression by radiofrequency exposure could be a direct or an indirect effect of the irradiation. Further studies are needed (also by means of other exposure schedules) to verify the effects described and to find out the molecular mediators and pathways modifying neural cell phenotype.

Study character:

European Project RAMP ("Risk Assessment for Exposure of Nervous System Cells to Mobile Telephone EMF: from in Vitro to in Vivo Studies")
European Union (EU)/European Commission
Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna, Italy
Lion's Club, Italy
Ministero dell' Università e della Ricerca (MIUR (formerly MURST (Ministero dell' Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica); Ministry of University and Research), Italy
University of Bologna, Italy

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