Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The effects of prenatal exposure to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field on the 21-day-old male rat heart med./bio.

By: Turedi S, Hanci H, Topal Z, Unal D, Mercantepe T, Bozkurt I, Kaya H, Odaci E
Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2015; 34 (4): 390-397
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of prenatal exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on oxidative stress and the histology of the heart should be investigated.

Background/further details

Six pregnant rats were divided into 2 groups (n=3 each): 1) exposure to the electromagnetic field and a 2) non-exposed control group. From each group, 6 pups were randomly selected 21 days after birth and investigated.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 1 hour/day from day 13 to 21 of pregnancy

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 1 hour/day from day 13 to 21 of pregnancy
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber plexiglass jar (30 cm x 42 cm x 50 cm)
Setup setup consisted of an oscillator connected to a half-wave dipole antenna (1 mm x 15 cm copper rod) using a coaxial cable; the antenna was installed centrally approximately 11 cm into the open end of the jar
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
electric field strength 13.77 V/m mean measured - -
power density 0.5 W/m² mean measured - -
SAR 0.025 W/kg - calculated whole body -
power 300 mW - - - approximate output power
Measurement and calculation details

EMF was measured at nine different sites in the jar, beneath the jar and on the floor with rats inside the jar (remark EMF-Portal: Hanci et al. 2015 measured exactly the same exposure values in a similar setup but without rats in the jar)

Reference articles

  • Hanci H et al. (2013): The effect of prenatal exposure to 900-megahertz electromagnetic field on the 21-old-day rat testicle
  • Bas O et al. (2013): Pyramidal Cell Loss in the Cornu Ammonis of 32-day-old Female Rats Following Exposure to a 900 Megahertz Electromagnetic Field During Prenatal Days 13-21
  • Ikinci A et al. (2013): The Effects of Prenatal Exposure to a 900 Megahertz Electromagnetic Field on Hippocampus Morphology and Learning Behavior in Rat Pups
  • Odaci E et al. (2013): The Effects of 900 Megahertz Electromagnetic Field Applied in the Prenatal Period on Spinal Cord Morphology and Motor Behavior in Female Rat Pups

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Light microscopy revealed irregularities, degeneration, vacuolization and nucleus loss in heart muscle fibers of exposed animals, which were not present in the control group. Additionally, significantly more apoptotic cells were found in the exposure group compared to the control group.
Electron microscopy revealed impairments of mitochondria and myofibrils in heart muscle cells of the exposure group but not in the control group.
Lipid peroxidation as well as the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly increased and the amount of reduced glutathione was significantly decreased in the exposure group in comparison to the control group.
The authors conclude that prenatal exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field could cause oxidative stress and pathological changes in the heart.

Study character:

Study funded by

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