Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Biochemical and histological studies on adverse effects of mobile phone radiation on rat's brain med./bio.

By: Hussein S, El-Saba AA, Galal MK

Published in: J Chem Neuroanat 2016; 78: 10-19

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of rats to a 1800 MHz electromagnetic field on oxidative stress, DNA damage and histology in the brain should be investigated.

Background/further details

40 male rats were divided into two groups (n=20 each): 1) exposure group and 2) control group.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: changes and damage in the rat brain

Exposure

- 1,800 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,800 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 120 min/day for three months	SAR: 0.6 W/kg (according to the user guide of the mobile phone) power density: 0.87 mW/cm² (via radiofrequency meter)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 120 min/day for three months

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Distance between measurement device and exposed object	5 cm
Setup	each group was placed in four cages (five rats per cage); one mobile phone was placed in the bottom of each cage at the center under a wire mesh to give maximum exposure near the brain.
Additional info	the control group was placed in four cages (five rats per cage) in a separate room away from any mobile phones

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.6 W/kg	-	cf. remarks	-	according to the user guide of the mobile phone
power density	0.87 mW/cm²	-	estimated	-	via radiofrequency meter

Exposed system:

animal
rat

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA fragmentation in tissue lysates (diphenylamine treatment, spectrophotometry)
morphol./histopathol. changes: histology of hippocampus and cerebellum (hematoxylin-eosin-stain, toluidine blue stain, stain of neurons, myelin and glia with Mallory`s phosphotungstic acid-haematoxylin, histochemical stain of cyclooxygenase-2 (marker for neural damage); microscopy); ultrastructure (uranyl acetate and lead citrate stain, transmission electron microscopy)
effects on the neurological system: oxidative stress (content of malondialdehyde, reaction with thiobarbituric acid) and antioxidant parameters in tissue homogenates (content of reduced glutathione, enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase; methods not explained), total protein content (Bradford protein assay)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
DNA/RNA
tissue slices
hippocampus and cerebellum, homogenates, lysates

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Oxidative stress was significantly increased in hippocampus and cerebellum samples from exposed animals compared to the control group, while antioxidant parameters (content of reduced glutathione, enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) were significantly decreased.
The amount of cyclooxygenase-2 was significantly increased in hippocampus and cerebellum samples from exposed animals compared to the control group, indicating increased neural damage.
DNA fragmentation was also significantly increased in hippocampus and cerebellum samples of the exposure group compared to the control group.
Histological and ultrastructural analysis showed degenerative changes in hippocampal pyramidal cells and dark cells and cerebellar Purkinje cells with vascular congestion in the exposure group and normal appearance in the control group.
The authors conclude that exposure of rats to a 1800 MHz electromagnetic field might lead to oxidative stress, DNA damage and histological changes in the brain.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Comments on this article

Mortazavi SM et al. (2016): Biochemical and histological studies on adverse effects of mobile phone radiation on rat's brain

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