Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Heat shock protein induction in fetal mouse brain as a measure of stress after whole of gestation exposure to mobile telephony radiofrequency fields med./bio.

By: Finnie JW, Chidlow G, Blumbergs PC, Manavis J, Cai Z

Published in: Pathology 2009; 41 (3): 276-279

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether whole of gestation exposure of fetal mouse brain to mobile phone radiofrequency fields produces a stress response detectable by induction of heat shock proteins.

Background/further details

Pregnant mice (n=10) were exposed and prior to parturition on day 19, fetal brains (n=10, one fetal brain of each litter) were collected.
Positive controls were performed (thermal stress).

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: stress response (induction of heat shock proteins) in fetal brain

Exposure

- PW pulsed wave
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: 60 min/day from day 1 to day 19 of gestation	SAR: 4 W/kg

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	60 min/day from day 1 to day 19 of gestation

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	0.6 ms
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	dipole antenna
Setup	mice placed in perspex tubes radially around the dipole antenna
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	4 W/kg	-	-	whole body	-

Exposed system:

animal
mouse/BALB/c
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: see "effects on the neurological system"
effects on the neurological system: stress response (induction of heat shock protein HSP25, HSP32, and HSP70; hematoxylin-eosin stain and immunostaining)

Investigated system:

tissue slices

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There was no induction of HSP32 or HSP70 in any brains, while HSP25 expression was limited to two brainstem nuclei and occured consistenly in exposed and non-exposed brains.
In conclusion, using HSP as oxidative stress marker, the data showed that whole gestation exposure of fetal mouse brains to mobile phone radiofrequency fields did not produce any stress response.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffects
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia

Jing J et al. (2012): The influence of microwave radiation from cellular phone on fetal rat brain
Yang XS et al. (2012): Exposure to 2.45 GHz electromagnetic fields elicits an HSP-related stress response in rat hippocampus
Watilliaux A et al. (2011): Effect of exposure to 1,800 MHz electromagnetic fields on heat shock proteins and glial cells in the brain of developing rats
Jorge-Mora T et al. (2010): Exposure to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation provokes cerebral changes in induction of HSP-90 a/ß.heat shock protein in rat
Dasdag S et al. (2009): Effect of mobile phone exposure on apoptotic glial cells and status of oxidative stress in rat brain
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Finnie JW et al. (2006): Effect of mobile telephony on blood-brain barrier permeability in the fetal mouse brain
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