Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Neurobiological effects of repeated radiofrequency exposures in male senescent rats med./bio.

Published in: Biogerontology 2016; 17 (5-6): 841-857

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of young and old rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on memory and biochemical markers in the brain should be investigated to determine whether mobile phone exposure can exacerbate age-related neurobiological deficits.

Background/further details

Male young rats (4-5 months old) were divided into the following groups: 1) exposure to the electromagnetic field (n=7-8), 2) sham exposure (n=7-8), and 3) cage control (n=6). Male old rats (22-24 months old) were exposed under the same conditions and divided into the following groups: 4) exposure to the electromagnetic field (n=7-8), 5) sham exposure (n=7-8) and 6) cage control (n=6).
For the investigations of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 levels in the brain, a positive control and a negative control was used for each group with 3 mice each.
After 26 days, rats were killed and biochemical parameters were analyzed.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 45 min on the experimental days 1–5, 8–12, 15–19 and 22–26

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 45 min on the experimental days 1–5, 8–12, 15–19 and 22–26
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 12.5 %
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup radiofrequency generator was connected to 4 loop antennas allowing exposure of four animal heads simultaneously; animals were in restraint in individual plexiglass rockets (6 or 8.5 cm diameter, 15 or 21 cm in length, for young and old rats, respectively) capped with a truncated cone on which the loop antenna was fixed
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info exposed and sham exposed animals were placed in two identical anechoic chambers at the same time
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 6 W/kg spatial average measured and calculated brain -
power 1 W - - - antenna output power

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In old rats, significant deficits were observed in some parameters compared to young rats and a significant influence of immobilization (presumably due to stress) was found, but exposure to the electromagnetic field had no significant effect. Pooling old and young exposed rats (groups 1 and 4), a significantly reduced anxiety behavior was observed in rats exposed to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field compared to non-exposed rats.
The authors conclude that the present examinations on the effects of exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on memory and biochemical markers in the brain provide no evidence that mobile phone exposure can exacerbate age-related neurobiological deficits.

Study character:

Study funded by

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