Histopathological examinations of rat brains after long-term exposure to GSM-900 mobile phone radiation

Brain Res Bull. 2008 Nov 25;77(5):257-63. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2008.08.004. Epub 2008 Sep 7.

Abstract

In order to mimic the real life situation, with often life-long exposure to the electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones, we have investigated in a rat model the effects of repeated exposures under a long period to Global System for Mobile Communication-900 MHz (GSM-900) radiation. Out of a total of 56 rats, 32 were exposed once weekly in a 2-h period, for totally 55 weeks, at different average whole-body specific absorption rates (SAR) (of in average 0.6 and 60 mW/kg at the initiation of the experimental period). The animals were exposed in a transverse electromagnetic transmission line chamber (TEM-cell) to radiation emitted by a GSM-900 test phone. Sixteen animals were sham exposed and eight animals were cage controls, which never left the animal house. After behavioural tests, 5-7 weeks after the last exposure, the brains were evaluated for histopathological alterations such as albumin extravasation, dark neurons, lipofuscin aggregation and signs of cytoskeletal and neuritic neuronal changes of the type seen in human ageing. In this study, no significant alteration of any these histopathological parameters was found, when comparing the GSM exposed animals to the sham exposed controls.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / radiation effects
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / radiation effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / radiation effects
  • Brain* / pathology
  • Brain* / radiation effects
  • Cell Phone*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Electromagnetic Fields / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / radiation effects
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Whole-Body Irradiation