Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The effect of exposure of rats during prenatal period to radiation spreading from mobile phones on renal development med./bio.

By: Bedir R, Tumkaya L, Sehitoglu I, Kalkan Y, Yilmaz A, Sahin OZ

Published in: Ren Fail 2015; 37 (2): 305-309

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of prenatal exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on the development of kidneys should be investigated.

Background/further details

Pregant rats were either exposed to the electromagnetic field or not exposed (n=3 each). The offspring from exposed rats was assigned to the exposure group (group 1, n=7) and the offspring from unexposed rats was assigned to the control group (group 2, n=7). After 60 days (remark EMF-Portal: 60 days after start or end of exposure or after birth? reference not clear), young animals were killed and investigated.

Endpoint

development of kidneys

Exposure

- 900 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 20 days during pregnancy	power: 2 W peak value

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 20 days during pregnancy

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	577 µs
Repetition frequency	217 Hz
Additional info	simulation of GSM signal, talking mode

Exposure setup

Exposure source	antenna
Chamber	cages
Setup	a generator with an external antenna placed closely and centrally under the cages

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	peak value	-	-	-

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell viability/cell division/proliferation: apoptosis in kidney (immunohistochemical stain of caspase-3, microscopy)
morphol./histopathol. changes: histopathology of kidney (morphology of Bowman's capsule, renal corpuscle and renal tubule, congestion, fibrosis, inflammation; hematoxylin-eosin stain, light microscopy)
levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, urea and creatinine in serum (commercial kits, autoanalyzer)

Investigated system:

tissue slices
kidney, blood

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Mild congestion and renal tubule defects as well as a dilatation of Bowman's capsule and increased apoptosis were observed in the kidney tissues of rats in the exposure group compared to the control group. However, these changes were not statistically significant.
The only significant result was an increased potassium level in exposed rats compared to the control group.
The authors conclude that prenatal exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field might have an effect on the renal development.

Study character:

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

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Kuybulu AE et al. (2016): Effects of long-term pre- and post-natal exposure to 2.45 GHz wireless devices on developing male rat kidney
Ragy MM (2015): Effect of exposure and withdrawal of 900-MHz-electromagnetic waves on brain, kidney and liver oxidative stress and some biochemical parameters in male rats
Ulubay M et al. (2015): Effects of prenatal 900 MHz electromagnetic field exposures on the histology of rat kidney
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