Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on in vitro models of neurodegenerative disease med./bio.

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2009; 30 (7): 564-572

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether prolonged exposure to 900 MHz GSM modulated electromagnetic fields affects viability and vulnerability of two neural cell cultures: primary cortical neurons (primary culture) and SN56 cell line, co-exposed to 25-35AA beta-amyloid (as in vitro model for Alzheimer disease), to glutamate (as model for excitotoxicity) and to H2O2 (as model for oxidative stress).

Background/further details

The two cell cultures were exposed/co-exposed at different time points (after seeding) and for different durations.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: up to 144 h

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration up to 144 h
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup thin inner conductor in the TEM cell provided two symmetrical large regions with field homogeneity; TEM cell placed inside an incubator
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1 W/kg - - - -

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that radiofrequency exposure did not change cell viability and proliferation rate of the SN56 cholinergic cells or viability of cortical neurons. Co-exposure to radiofrequency exacerbated neurotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide in SN56 cells, but not in primary cortical neurons, whereas no cooperative effects of radiofrequency exposure with glutamate and 25-35AA beta amyloid were found.
These findings suggest that only under particular circumstances exposure to GSM modulated, 900 MHz signal act as a co-stressor for oxidative damage of neural cells.

Study character:

Study funded by

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