Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The effect of radiofrequency radiation on DNA and lipid damage in female and male infant rabbits med./bio.

By: Guler G, Tomruk A, Ozgur E, Sahin D, Sepici A, Altan N, Seyhan N

Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2012; 88 (4): 367-373

Aim of study (acc. to editor)

To study the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the development of young rabbits.

Background/further details

Rabbits were exposed during the gestational phase (intrauterine; from 15^th to 22^nd day of gestation) and/or in the age of one month (extrauterine exposure). A total of 72 female (n=36) and male (n=36) rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: 1) sham exposure group, 2) no intrauterine exposure, but extrauterine exposure, 3) intrauterine exposure only (no extrauterine exposure) and 4) intrauterine and extrauterine exposure.
According to the authors, female rabbits were exposed during 7 days, whereas males were exposed during 14 days (however, this is contradictory to the data on the groups above (remark of EMF-Portal editor)).

Endpoint

effects on the liver of young rabbits (DNA damage and lipid peroxidation)

Exposure

- 1,800 MHz
- PW pulsed wave
- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,800 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 15 min/day on 7 days (female) or 14 days (male)	power: 0.1 W SAR: 1.8 W/kg

General information

animals were treated in the following four groups: i) sham exposure ii) EMF exposure at the age of one month iii) intrauterine EMF exposure between day 15 and day 22 of gestation iv) intrauterine EMF exposure between day 15 and day 22 of gestation + EMF exposure at the age of one month

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 15 min/day on 7 days (female) or 14 days (male)

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	0.576 ms
Duty cycle	12.5 %
Repetition frequency	217 Hz
Pulse type	rectangular

Exposure setup

Exposure source	horn antenna signal generator
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	20 cm
Chamber	shielded room as exposure chamber
Setup	signal generator connected via a 2 m long cable to the horn antenna; cage with one animal placed under the antenna's aperture
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	0.1 W	-	measured	-	-
SAR	1.8 W/kg	-	calculated	whole body	-

Exposed system:

animal
rabbit/New Zealand
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage in the liver (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine level)
oxidative stress in the liver (malondialdehyde level (via thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) and lipid peroxidation (FOX assay (via ferrous oxidation in xylenol orange; spectrophotometry))

Investigated organ system:

liver

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Female rabbits: Malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in group 4 (intrauterine and extrauterine exposure) compared with the sham exposed group and group 3 (intrauterine exposure only). The FOX assay did not reveal any significant differences between the groups. The 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels were significantly increased in groups 2 (extrauterine exposure only) and 4 compared with the sham exposed group and in group 4 compared with group 3.
Male rabbits: Malondialdehyde levels were significantly decreased in group 3 (intrauterine exposure only) compared with the sham exposed group and group 4 (intrauterine and extrauterine exposure). The FOX assay revealed significantly increased levels in group 3 compared with groups 1 and 4. The 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels did not reveal any significant differences between the groups.
GSM-like radiofrequency exposure may induce biochemical changes in the liver tissue of young rabbits.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Gazi University Research Foundation, Turkey

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