Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The Effects of 900 Megahertz Electromagnetic Field Applied in the Prenatal Period on Spinal Cord Morphology and Motor Behavior in Female Rat Pups med./bio.

By: Odaci E, Ikinci A, Yildirim M, Kaya H, Akca M, Hanci H, Sönmez OF, Aslan A, Okuyan M, Bas O

Published in: Neuroquantology 2013; 11 (4): 573-581

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of prenatal exposure of female rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on spinal cord morphology and motor activity in young rats should be investigated.

Background/further details

Pregnant rats were either exposed or not exposed (n=3, respectively). When rat pups were 21 days old, female pups from non-exposed mothers were assigned to the control group (n=13) and pups from exposed mothers were assigned to the exposure group (n=10). At the age of 26 days, motor activity tests were conducted and at the age of 32 days, rats were killed and histological examinations were conducted.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: spinal cord morphology and motor activity in young rats

Exposure

- 900 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: intermittent for 1 hour/day from day 13 to 21 of pregnancy	power: 300 mW (approximate output power) electric field strength: 10 V/m mean

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	intermittent for 1 hour/day from day 13 to 21 of pregnancy

Exposure setup

Exposure source	dipole antenna
Chamber	plexiglass jar of 30 cm x 42 cm x 52 cm
Setup	half-wave dipole antenna made from a copper rod (1 mm x 15 cm) was inserted into the central area of the jar, approximately 11 cm inside the open surface of the jar
Additional info	exposure and control groups were maintained in separate cages in the same room during the experiment, except during exposure to EMF, which took place in the EMF exposure room

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	300 mW	-	-	-	approximate output power
electric field strength	10 V/m	mean	calculated	-	-

Additional parameter details

electrical field strength was equivalent to the intensity of the electrical field emitted by mobile phones in speak mode in their immediate surroundings

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

morphol./histopathol. changes: spinal cord histology of upper thoracic region (cresyl violet stain, microscopy)
cognitive/behavioral endpoints: motor activity (number of squares crossed and numbers of rearings (inquisitive investigation of surroundings by rising onto its hind legs), anxiety (number of defecations); open field test), motor coordination and balance (time until fall down; accelerating rotating rod test)

Investigated system:

tissue slices
spinal cord
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Motor coordination and balance were significantly increased in exposed rats compared to the control group, while motor activity did not show any significant differences between the groups.
No pathologic changes were found in spinal cord samples from control rats, while exposed rats showed atrophy, vacuolization in gray matter and occasional myelin thickening, white matter infiltration among the nerve fibers and infiltration of gray matter inside white matter as well as structural impairment in motor neuron cell body structure.
The authors conclude that prenatal exposure of female rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field might affect spinal cord morphology which might cause a change in motor functions in young rats.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Odaci E et al. (2016): Maternal exposure to a continuous 900-MHz electromagnetic field provokes neuronal loss and pathological changes in cerebellum of 32-day-old female rat offspring
Erdem Koc G et al. (2016): Neuroprotective effects of melatonin and omega-3 on hippocampal cells prenatally exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields
Klose M et al. (2014): Effects of Early-Onset Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure (GSM 900 MHz) on Behavior and Memory in Rats
Haghani M et al. (2013): Maternal mobile phone exposure adversely affects the electrophysiological properties of Purkinje neurons in rat offspring
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
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Dubreuil D et al. (2002): Does head-only exposure to GSM-900 electromagnetic fields affect the performance of rats in spatial learning tasks?