Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effect of exposure to 1,800 MHz electromagnetic fields on heat shock proteins and glial cells in the brain of developing rats med./bio.

Published in: Neurotox Res 2011; 20 (2): 109-119

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether GSM 1800 MHz electromagnetic fields affect immature rodent brains when applied at various stages of postnatal development.

Background/further details

Young rats, exposed to electromagnetic fields on postnatal days 5 (n=6), 15 (n=5) or 35 (n=6), were compared to sham exposed littermate rats (n=6 at all ages).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,800 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 2 h on postnatal day 5, 15 or 35

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 1,800 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 2 h on postnatal day 5, 15 or 35
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 12.5 %
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup loop antenna consisting of a printed circuit with two metallic lines engraved in a dielectric epoxy resin substrate with a 1 mm wide line forming loop at one end, which was placed close to the animal's head
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 0.13 W/kg mean calculated whole body on postnatal day 35
SAR 0.63 W/kg mean calculated whole body on postnatal day 15
SAR 1.2 W/kg mean calculated whole body on postnatal day 5
SAR 1.7 W/kg mean calculated brain on postnatal day 35
SAR 2.2 W/kg mean calculated brain on postnatal day 15
SAR 2.5 W/kg mean calculated brain on postnatal day 5

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The GSM signal had no significant effect on the abundance of Hsp60, Hsc70 or Hsp90, of serine racemase, glutamate transporters (GLT1 and GLAST), or of GFAP. Immunohistochemical detection of CD68 antigen in brain sections from sham exposed and exposed animals did not reveal any differences in the morphology or distribution of microglial cells.
These data provide no evidence for acute cell stress or glial reactions indicative of early neural cell damage in developing brains exposed to 1800 MHz signals.

Study character:

Study funded by

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