Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The Effects of Prenatal Exposure to a 900 Megahertz Electromagnetic Field on Hippocampus Morphology and Learning Behavior in Rat Pups med./bio.

Published in: Neuroquantology 2013; 11 (4): 582-590

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of prenatal exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on hippocampus morphology and learning behavior in rat pups should be investigated.

Background/further details

Pregnant rats were either exposed or not exposed to the electromagnetic field (n=3 rats, respectively). 22 days after birth, female pups were removed from their mothers and divided into 2 groups according to the exposure status of their mothers: 1) exposure group (n=13) and 2) control group (n=10). Behavioral tests were conducted on day 26 and animals were sacrificed for histopathological investigations on day 32.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 1 h/day from day 13 to 21 of pregnancy

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 1 h/day from day 13 to 21 of pregnancy
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber plexiglas jar (30 cm x 42 cm x 52 cm) in separate exposure room
Setup antenna was made of a 1 mm x 15 cm copper rod by means of a coaxial cable and was inserted into the central area of the jar, approximately 11 cm inside the open surface of a glass jar
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 300 mW - estimated - output power

Reference articles

  • Hanci H et al. (2013): The effect of prenatal exposure to 900-megahertz electromagnetic field on the 21-old-day rat testicle

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In the radial maze, pups from exposed mothers (group 1) showed a significantly increased latency and in the passive avoidance test the same group showed a significantly decreased latency compared to the control group (group 2).
Morphological changes in the pyramidal cells were found in the exposure group in comparison to the control group.
Physical examination revealed no skeletal anomalies or unexpected findings in either group.
The authors conclude that prenatal exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field might have adverse effects on hippocampus morphology and learning behavior in female rat pups.

Study character:

Study funded by

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