Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Long-term exposure to a continuous 900 MHz electromagnetic field disrupts cerebellar morphology in young adult male rats med./bio.

By: Aslan A, İkinci A, Baş O, Sönmez OF, Kaya H, Odaci E

Published in: Biotech Histochem 2017; 92 (5): 324-330

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the effect of a 900 MHz-electromagnetic field on potential histological changes in the cerebellum of adolescent rats .

Background/further details

Eighteen male rats (21 old days old) were divided in three groups (n=6 per group): 1) cage control, 2) sham exposure, and 3) exposure group.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: cerebellar morphology

Exposure

- 900 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: 1 hour/day for 25 consecutive days	SAR: 0.01 W/kg electric field strength: 6.8 V/m mean (beneath the empty EMF cage) electric field strength: 11.9 V/m mean (within the empty EMF cage) electric field strength: 4.5 V/m mean (beneath the EMF cage with) electric field strength: 13.4 V/m mean (within the EMF cage with rats)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	1 hour/day for 25 consecutive days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	dipole antenna
Setup	EMF cage (42 x 30 x 50 cm³) in which rats were allowed to move around freely during exposure/sham exposure; antenna (15 cm long) was mounted 39 cm above the EMF cage floor using an insulating wooden rod; signal was transmitted from the oscillator by a coaxial cable to the antenna; no statistically significant difference in the temperature was observed between exposure (21.4 ± 1.7°C) and sham exposure (21.7 ± 1.7°C)
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.01 W/kg	-	calculated	whole body	-
electric field strength	6.8 V/m	mean	measured	-	beneath the empty EMF cage
electric field strength	11.9 V/m	mean	measured	-	within the empty EMF cage
electric field strength	4.5 V/m	mean	measured	-	beneath the EMF cage with
electric field strength	13.4 V/m	mean	measured	-	within the EMF cage with rats

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Sprague Dawley
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: morphology of cerebellum: number of Purkinje cells, morphology of Purkinje cells and other neurons (cresyl violet staining, microscopy)

Investigated system:

tissue slices

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The number of Purkinje cells was significantly reduced in exposed rats compared to sham exposed and cage control rats. Furthermore, in cerebellums from exposed rats, the arrangement of Purkinje cells was altered and pathological changes were observed (more intense staining of neuron cytoplasm) while the morphology in cerebellums from sham exposed rats and those from the cage control appeared normal.
The authors conclude that a 900 MHz-electromagnetic field could induce histological changes in the cerebellum of adolescent rats.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
blind study (for counting of purkinje cells)

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Kerimoglu G et al. (2016): Pernicious effects of long-term, continuous 900-MHz electromagnetic field throughout adolescence on hippocampus morphology, biochemistry and pyramidal neuron numbers in 60-day-old Sprague Dawley male rats
Hussein S et al. (2016): Biochemical and histological studies on adverse effects of mobile phone radiation on rat's brain
Mugunthan N et al. (2016): Effects of Long Term Exposure of 900-1800 MHz Radiation Emitted from 2G Mobile Phone on Mice Hippocampus- A Histomorphometric Study
Ragbetli MC et al. (2010): The effect of mobile phone on the number of Purkinje cells: a stereological study
Sonmez OF et al. (2010): Purkinje cell number decreases in the adult female rat cerebellum following exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic field
Kumlin T et al. (2007): Mobile phone radiation and the developing brain: behavioral and morphological effects in juvenile rats
Albert EN et al. (1981): Effect of nonionizing radiation on the Purkinje cells of the rat cerebellum