Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Possible cause for altered spatial cognition of prepubescent rats exposed to chronic radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation med./bio.

Published in: Metab Brain Dis 2015; 30 (5): 1193-1206

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of a chronic exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on spatial memory and the neural structure in the hippocampus should be investigated.

Background/further details

Rats were divided into the following groups: 1) exposure to the electromagnetic field (n=24), 2) sham exposure (n=24) and 3) cage control (n=24).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 1 h/day for 28 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 1 h/day for 28 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber polypropylene cages (41 Π28 Π14 cm)
Setup an activated mobile phone (silent mode, giving unattended calls (50 calls/h) with the help of an auto dialer) was inserted in a wire mesh cage (12 Π7 Π7 cm) and placed at the center of the animal cage (n=3 rats per cage)
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 2 W - - - according to manufacturer
SAR 1.15 W/kg - - - according to manufacturer
power density 146.6 µW/cm² - measured - 3 cm away from mobile phone

Reference articles

  • Narayanan SN et al. (2013): Analysis of emotionality and locomotion in radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation exposed rats
  • Narayanan SN et al. (2010): Effect of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations (RF-EMR) on passive avoidance behaviour and hippocampal morphology in Wistar rats

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There were no significant differences in the body weight between the groups.
Learning and the spatial memory were significantly deteriorated in rats exposed to the electromagnetic field compared to cage control and sham exposure groups.
No cellular aggregates were found in any group, but neuronal cell viability was significantly decreased in exposed rats compared to cage control and sham exposure rats. Moreover, pyramidal cells of exposed rats showed significantly less dendritic arborization compared to the cage control group.
The authors conclude that chronic exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field could impair spatial memory and the neural structure in the hippocampus and they propose a causal relationship.

Study character:

Study funded by

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