Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Maternal mobile phone exposure adversely affects the electrophysiological properties of Purkinje neurons in rat offspring med./bio.

Published in: Neuroscience 2013; 250: 588-598

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To assess whether maternal exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields would adversely affect the cerebellar function of rat offspring using electrophysiological and behavioral studies.

Background/further details

Pregnant rats were divided into a control group (n=10) or a mobile phone exposure group (n=10). Pups were weaned on postnatal day 23 and all experiments were performed on postnatal days 30-32.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: 6 h/day during whole gestation
  • SAR: 0.5 W/kg minimum
  • SAR: 0.9 W/kg maximum

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 6 h/day during whole gestation
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber Plexiglas cages
Setup a cell phone and Plexiglas cage with the animals were placed inside a Faraday cage; the Plexiglas cage was placed 40 cm away from the cell phone
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 0.5 W/kg minimum measured and calculated - -
SAR 0.9 W/kg maximum measured and calculated - -

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 data did not show any behavioral changes in rats chronically exposed to electromagnetic fields. However, patch-clamp recordings revealed a decreased neuronal excitability of Purkinje cells in exposed rats. The most significant changes were observed when recording the spontaneous activity of neuronal excitability including the after-hyperpolarization amplitude, spike frequency and half width.
Pregnancy length, body temperature and litter sizes of exposed dams were not significantly different from values of sham exposed dams. Mobile phone exposure did not significantly affect mortality rate and the body weights of pups.
In conclusion, the findings showed that prenatal exposure to electromagnetic fields resulted in altered electrophysiological properties of Purkinje cells. Both male and female pups were sensitive to many electrophysiological effects following maternal exposure. However, these changes may not be severe enough to alter the cerebellum-dependent functionality.

Study character:

Study funded by

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