Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Maternal mobile phone exposure alters intrinsic electrophysiological properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat offspring med./bio.

Published in: Toxicol Ind Health 2016; 32 (6): 968-979

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the potential influences of gestational exposure to electromagnetic fields on the cognitive performance in rats. Furthermore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential electrophysiological changes of CA1 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus following prenatal exposure.

Background/further details

8 pregnant rats per group (exposure and sham exposure) were used and offspring was investigated.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: 6 h/day during gestation
  • SAR: 0.3 W/kg minimum
  • SAR: 0.9 W/kg maximum

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 6 h/day during gestation
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber rats were restrained in 5 mm thick Plexiglas with 25 cm length
Setup a cellular phone and the Plexiglas cage were placed inside an aluminum Faraday cage; the mobile phone was operated in test mode and was powered through a stabilized power supply, thus antenna power supply was constant
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 0.3 W/kg minimum - - -
SAR 0.9 W/kg maximum - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed a decrease in neuronal excitability in the mobile phone exposed group. Exposure was mostly associated with a decrease in the number of action potentials fired in spontaneous activity and in response to current injection in both male and female groups. There was an increase in the amplitude of the after-hyperpolarization in exposed rats compared with the control.
The results of the passive avoidance and Morris water maze showed that the exposure significantly altered learning and memory in male and female rats compared with the control rats. Light microscopy study of brain sections of the control and mobile phone-exposed rats showed a normal morphology in both groups.
The findings suggest that exposure to mobile phones adversely affects the cognitive performance of both female and male offspring rats.

Study character:

Study funded by

Related articles