Effect of microwave radiation on adult neurogenesis and behavior of prenatally exposed rats

IBRO Neuroscience Reports · 2024 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 321

Female rats were exposed to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation for 2 hours daily throughout pregnancy. Prenatal exposure was associated with significant changes in numbers of proliferating and dying cells in the RMS and dentate gyrus, attenuation of nitrergic neuro…

Study snapshot

PublicationIBRO Neuroscience Reports · 2024

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effect of microwave radiation on adult neurogenesis and behavior of prenatally exposed rats Popovičová A, Račeková E, Martončíková M, Fabianová K, Raček A, Žideková M. Effect of microwave radiation on adult neurogenesis and behavior of prenatally exposed rats. IBRO Neuroscience Reports, 17:234-244, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.08.007. Abstract Postnatal neurogenesis appears to be highly sensitive to environmental factors, including microwave electromagnetic radiation (MWR). Here, we investigated the impact of MWR during intrauterine development on juvenile and adult neurogenesis in the rostral migratory stream (RMS) and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in the rat brain, as well as its effect on animal behavior. Female rats were exposed to MWR at a frequency of 2.45 GHz for 2 hours daily throughout pregnancy. The offspring of irradiated mothers survived to either juvenile age or adulthood. The brains of the rats were subjected to morphological analysis, assessing cell proliferation and death in both neurogenic regions. In the RMS, the differentiation of nitrergic neurons was also investigated. The effect of MWR on behavior was evaluated in rats surviving to adulthood. Prenatal MWR exposure caused significant changes in the number of proliferating and dying cells, depending on the age of the animals and the observed neurogenic region. In addition, MWR attenuated the maturation of nitrergic neurons in the RMS in both juvenile and adult rats. Morphological alterations in neurogenesis were accompanied by changes in animals’ behavior. Affected neurogenesis and changes in animal behavior suggest a high sensitivity of the developing brain to MWR. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationPregnant female rats and their offspring (juvenile and adult)

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz · 2 hours daily throughout pregnancy (prenatal exposure)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Juvenile and adult neurogenesis in rostral migratory stream (RMS)
Juvenile and adult neurogenesis in dentate gyrus of hippocampus
Cell proliferation in neurogenic regions
Cell death in neurogenic regions
Differentiation/maturation of nitrergic neurons in RMS
Adult behavior

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure intensity/dosimetry (e.g., SAR) not reported in abstract
Behavioral test details not reported in abstract
Randomization/blinding not described in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 hours daily throughout pregnancy (prenatal exposure)"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant female rats and their offspring (juvenile and adult)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Juvenile and adult neurogenesis in rostral migratory stream (RMS)",
    "Juvenile and adult neurogenesis in dentate gyrus of hippocampus",
    "Cell proliferation in neurogenic regions",
    "Cell death in neurogenic regions",
    "Differentiation/maturation of nitrergic neurons in RMS",
    "Adult behavior"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Female rats were exposed to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation for 2 hours daily throughout pregnancy. Prenatal exposure was associated with significant changes in numbers of proliferating and dying cells in the RMS and dentate gyrus, attenuation of nitrergic neuron maturation in the RMS in juvenile and adult offspring, and behavioral changes in adult offspring.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure intensity/dosimetry (e.g., SAR) not reported in abstract",
    "Behavioral test details not reported in abstract",
    "Randomization/blinding not described in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave radiation",
    "electromagnetic radiation",
    "2.45 GHz",
    "prenatal exposure",
    "intrauterine development",
    "adult neurogenesis",
    "juvenile neurogenesis",
    "rostral migratory stream",
    "dentate gyrus",
    "hippocampus",
    "nitrergic neurons",
    "cell proliferation",
    "cell death",
    "behavior",
    "rat"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-microwave-animal-studies",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Animal study assessing prenatal 2.45 GHz microwave exposure effects on neurogenesis and behavior."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.08.007
PubMed: Not supplied

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