Medical/biological study (experimental study)

In situ detection of gliosis and apoptosis in the brains of young rats exposed in utero to a Wi-Fi signal med./bio.

By: Ait-Aissa S, Billaudel B, Poulletier de Gannes F, Hurtier A, Haro E, Taxile M, Ruffie G, Athane A, Veyret B, Lagroye I

Published in: CR physique 2010; 11 (9-10): 592-601

Download citation in RIS format

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To assess whether exposure to a WiFi signal had an impact on the central nervous system of young rats exposed in utero and during early life.

Background/further details

60 pregnant rats were exposed or sham-exposed to a WiFi signal at different SAR values during the last two weeks of gestation (cage control, sham exposure group and three exposure groups à 12 animals). Following the in utero exposure, the pups were divided into two groups: one group continued exposure for 5 weeks after birth (together with the dams and three pups per litter) and the rest of the litter (exposed only in utero) was kept in the animal facility for 5 weeks (n=3-15 per litter). One pup per litter was investigated.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: gliosis and apoptosis in the brains of young rats

Exposure

- 2.45 GHz
- RF
- W-LAN/WiFi

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz Exposure duration: continuous for 2 h/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks (day 6 to day 21 of gestation) or 7 weeks (day 6 to day 21 of gestation + 5 weeks after birth)	SAR: 0.08 W/kg (for the dams) SAR: 0.4 W/kg (for the dams) SAR: 4 W/kg (for the dams) SAR: 9 W/kg peak value (whole body) (9 ± 3 W/kg for the pups)

General information

Rats were divided into five groups: i) cage control ii) sham exposure iii) whole body exposure at 0.08 W/kg (public exposure limit) iv) whole body exposure at 0.4 W/kg (professional exposure limit) v) whole body exposure at 4 W/kg (ICNIRP critical level)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	2.45 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 2 h/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks (day 6 to day 21 of gestation) or 7 weeks (day 6 to day 21 of gestation + 5 weeks after birth)

Exposure setup

Exposure source	dipole antenna
Setup	150 cm x 150 cm x 150 cm cubic reverberation chamber with six dipole antennas, activated at random and three paddles for mode stirring; animal cages placed in a 40 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm volume at the center of the chamber
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	Wi-Fi signal (IEEE 802.11 b/g) based on the "dialog" between two PCs equipped with Wi-Fi cards

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.08 W/kg	-	calculated	whole body	for the dams
SAR	0.4 W/kg	-	calculated	whole body	for the dams
SAR	4 W/kg	-	calculated	whole body	for the dams
SAR	9 W/kg	peak value	calculated	whole body	9 ± 3 W/kg for the pups

Reference articles

Wu T et al. (2010): Whole-body new-born and young rats' exposure assessment in a reverberating chamber operating at 2.4 GHz

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on embryo/fetus: see "effects on the neurological system"
effects on the neurological system: gliosis and apoptosis in the brains of young rats (gliosis/astrocyte activation (GFAP expression of ten different brain areas; immunohistochemistry) and apoptosis (TUNEL assay))

Investigated system:

tissue slices

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Under these experimental conditions, whole body exposure in utero with and without extended postnatal exposure to a WiFi signal did not trigger persistent astroglia activation or did not induce apoptosis in the brains of young rats. These data suggest that prenatal exposure to WiFi has no deleterious effects on the integrity of the developing rat brain.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

Fondation Santé et Radiofréquences, France
France Telecom

Othman H et al. (2017): Postnatal development and behavior effects of in-utero exposure of rats to radiofrequency waves emitted from conventional WiFi devices
Sangun O et al. (2015): The effects of long-term exposure to a 2450 MHz electromagnetic field on growth and pubertal development in female Wistar rats
Laudisi F et al. (2012): Prenatal exposure to radiofrequencies: Effects of WiFi signals on thymocyte development and peripheral T cell compartment in an animal model
Aldad TS et al. (2012): Fetal Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure From 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones Affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice
Poulletier de Gannes F et al. (2012): Effect of in utero wi-fi exposure on the pre- and postnatal development of rats
Jing J et al. (2012): The influence of microwave radiation from cellular phone on fetal rat brain
Ait-Aissa S et al. (2012): In utero and early-life exposure of rats to a Wi-Fi signal: Screening of immune markers in sera and gestational outcome
Dogan M et al. (2012): Effects of electromagnetic radiation produced by 3G mobile phones on rat brains: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy, biochemical, and histopathological evaluation
Orendacova J et al. (2011): Effects of short-duration electromagnetic radiation on early postnatal neurogenesis in rats: Fos and NADPH-d histochemical studies
Ammari M et al. (2010): GFAP expression in the rat brain following sub-chronic exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field signal
Sambucci M et al. (2010): Prenatal Exposure to Non-ionizing Radiation: Effects of WiFi Signals on Pregnancy Outcome, Peripheral B-Cell Compartment and Antibody Production
Maskey D et al. (2010): Chronic 835-MHz radiofrequency exposure to mice hippocampus alters the distribution of calbindin and GFAP immunoreactivity
Hirose H et al. (2010): 1950 MHz IMT-2000 field does not activate microglial cells in vitro
de Gannes FP et al. (2009): Effects of head-only exposure of rats to GSM-900 on blood-brain barrier permeability and neuronal degeneration
Bas O et al. (2009): Chronic prenatal exposure to the 900 megahertz electromagnetic field induces pyramidal cell loss in the hippocampus of newborn rats
Dasdag S et al. (2009): Effect of mobile phone exposure on apoptotic glial cells and status of oxidative stress in rat brain
Orendacova J et al. (2009): Immunohistochemical study of postnatal neurogenesis after whole-body exposure to electromagnetic fields: evaluation of age- and dose-related changes in rats
Kim TH et al. (2008): Local exposure of 849 MHz and 1763 MHz radiofrequency radiation to mouse heads does not induce cell death or cell proliferation in brain
Moquet J et al. (2008): Exposure to low level GSM 935 MHZ radiofrequency fields does not induce apoptosis in proliferating or differentiated murine neuroblastoma cells
Ammari M et al. (2008): Effect of a chronic GSM 900 MHz exposure on glia in the rat brain
Yilmaz F et al. (2008): Whole-body exposure of radiation emitted from 900 MHz mobile phones does not seem to affect the levels of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein
Kumlin T et al. (2007): Mobile phone radiation and the developing brain: behavioral and morphological effects in juvenile rats
Brillaud E et al. (2007): Effect of an acute 900MHz GSM exposure on glia in the rat brain: a time-dependent study
Joubert V et al. (2007): No apoptosis is induced in rat cortical neurons exposed to GSM phone fields
Thorlin T et al. (2006): Exposure of cultured astroglial and microglial brain cells to 900 MHz microwave radiation
Nikolova T et al. (2005): Electromagnetic fields affect transcript levels of apoptosis-related genes in embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells
Mausset-Bonnefont AL et al. (2004): Acute exposure to GSM 900-MHz electromagnetic fields induces glial reactivity and biochemical modifications in the rat brain
Salford LG et al. (2003): Nerve cell damage in mammalian brain after exposure to microwaves from GSM mobile phones
Fritze K et al. (1997): Effect of global system for mobile communication microwave exposure on the genomic response of the rat brain