• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Qualitative Effect on mRNAs of Injury-Associated Proteins by Cell Phone Like Radiation in Rat Facial Nerves. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to editor)
To check the hypothesis that cell phone irradiation can cause cellular damage to the rat facial nerve (buccal and mandibular branches) leading to increased mRNA transcription of injury-associated proteins.
Background/further details:
Six rats were exposed and six rats were sham-exposed (Remark of EMF-Portal editor: The actual number of rats used for each exposure is not specified in this article).

Endpoint

• molecular biosynthesis: mRNA synthesis (gene expression) of several injury-associated proteins

Exposure
General category: mobile phone, analog mobile phone, digital mobile phone, CDMA

Field characteristics	Parameters
field 1: 800 MHz AMPS mode exposure duration: 2 times 3 hr / day (with 30 min rest period between exposures), on 7 days/week for 18 weeks	SAR: 1.8 W/kg (at 2.2 cm distance) power: 6.3 mW min value power: 607 mW max value
field 2: 800 MHz Cell mode exposure duration: 2 times 3 hr / day (with 30 min rest period between exposures), on 7 days/week for 18 weeks	SAR: 0.9 W/kg (at 2.2 cm distance) power: 0.01 mW min value power: 487 mW max value
field 3: 1.9 GHz PCS mode exposure duration: 2 times 3 hr / day (with 30 min rest period between exposures), on 7 days/week for 18 weeks	SAR: 1.18 W/kg (at 2.2 cm distance) power: 0.01 mW min value power: 335 mW max value

Exposed system:
animal (species/strain): rat/Sprague-Dawley
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• molecular biosynthesis: mRNA synthesis of several injury-associated proteins in the buccal and mandibular branch: calcium-ATPase, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule, Nerve Growth Factor, and endothelin (RT-PCR)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
All four mRNAs were up-regulated in the exposed group compared to the control group in both nerve sampIes. These differences were statistically significant for all four proteins in the mandibular branch and two for the buccal branch. The mandibular nerve showed a higher and broader level of upregulation than the buccal nerve.
The authors conclude that these upregulations have occurred in the cell phone exposed group because there have been injuries to the surrounding nerve tissue. The authors further conclude if the use of these cell phones continues, there most likely will be permanent damage to these tissues over the years and the likelihood of tumors, cancers, and system failures will potentially increase.

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

• McNamee JP et al. (2009): Radiofrequency radiation and gene/protein expression: a review.
• Yan JG et al. (2008): Upregulation of specific mRNA levels in rat brain after cell phone exposure.
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• Huang TQ et al. (2008): Molecular responses of Jurkat T-cells to 1763 MHz radiofrequency radiation.
• Salford LG et al. (2008): The mammalian brain in the electromagnetic fields designed by man with special...
• Finnie JW et al. (2007): Stress response in mouse brain after long-term (2 year) exposure to mobile...