• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Exposure of rat brain to 915 MHz GSM microwaves induces changes in gene expression but not double stranded DNA breaks or effects on chromatin conformation. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study whether exposure of rat brain to microwaves of global system for mobile communication (GSM) induces DNA strand breaks, changes in chromatin conformation and in gene expression.

Endpoints

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA strand breaks, changes in chromatin conformation
• molecular biosynthesis: gene expression

Exposure
General category: digital mobile phone, GSM, microwaves

Field characteristics	Parameters
915 MHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: continuous for 2 h	power: 2 W peak value SAR: 0.4 mW/g average over mass (whole body)

Exposed system:
animal (species/strain): rat/Fischer 344
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA double-strand breaks (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis), changes in chromatin conformation (as indicator for stress response and genotoxicity; AVTD)
• molecular biosynthesis: gene expression (Affymetrix U34 GeneChips (DNA microarray)); protein expression of stress response gene HSP70 (Western Blot)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
Effects of microwave exposure were found on neither conformation of chromatin nor DNA double-strand breaks.
In cerebellum from all exposed animals, 11 genes were upregulated in a range of 1.34-2.74 fold and one gene was downregulated 0.48-fold. The induced genes encode proteins with diverse functions including neurotransmitter regulation, blood-brain barrier, and melatonin production.
The results show that GSM microwaves at 915 MHz did not induce DNA double-strand breaks or changes in chromatin conformation, but affected gene expression in rat brain cells.
Because the nonthermal effects of microwaves appear to be dependent of many physical and biological variables, the data of this study should be compared with care with other studies where these variables are different.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study, pilot/exploratory/preliminary study)

Study funded by

• Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS)
• Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI)

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