Changes in rat spatial learning and memory as well as serum exosome proteins after simultaneous exposure to 1.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz microwaves

2022 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 381

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Changes in rat spatial learning and memory as well as serum exosome proteins after simultaneous exposure to 1.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz microwaves Wang H, Liu Y, Sun Y, Zhao L, Dong J, Xu X, Wang H, Zhang J, Yao B, Zhao X, Liu S, Zhang K, Peng R. Changes in rat spatial learning and memory as well as serum exosome proteins after simultaneous exposure to 1.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz microwaves. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Sep 15;243:113983. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113983. Abstract This study aimed to elucidate the effects and biological targets sensitive to simultaneous 1.5 and 4.3 GHz microwave exposure in rats. A total of 120 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into four groups: the sham (S group), 1.5 GHz microwave exposure (L group), 4.3 GHz microwave exposure (C group) and simultaneous 1.5 and 4.3 GHz microwave exposure (LC group) groups. Spatial learning and memory, cortical electrical activity, and hippocampal ultrastructure were assessed by the Morris Water Maze, electroencephalography, and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Additionally, serum exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation and assessed by Western blotting, nanoparticle tracking and transmission electron microscopy. The serum exosome protein content was assessed by label-free quantitative proteomics. Impaired spatial learning and memory decreased cortical excitability, and damage to the hippocampal ultrastructure were observed in groups exposed to microwaves, especially the L and LC groups. A total of 54, 145 and 296 exosomal proteins were differentially expressed between the S group and the L, C and LC groups, respectively. These differentially expressed proteins were involved in the synaptic vesicle cycle and SNARE interactions during vesicular transport. Additionally, VAMP8, Syn7 and VMAT are potential serum markers of simultaneous microwave exposure. Thus, exposure to 1.5 and 4.3 GHz microwaves induced impairments in spatial learning and memory, and simultaneous microwave exposure had the most severe effects. Excerpts ... the 1.5 GHz microwave exposure group subjected to microwave exposure at an average power density of 10 mW/cm2 for 6 min (L group); the 4.3 GHz microwave exposure group subjected to microwave exposure at an average power density of 10 mW/cm2 for 6 min (C group); and the 1.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz microwave exposure group subjected to simultaneous microwave exposure at 10 mW/cm2 for 6 min (LC group).... For a typical 230-g rat, the SARs were as follows: 3.3 W/kg, 2.5 W/kg, and 5.8 W/kg in the L, C, and LC groups, respectively.... In summary, exposure to a single microwave frequency (1.5 GHz, 10 mW/cm2 for 6 min) and multiple microwave frequencies (1.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz, 10 mW/cm2 for 6 min) impaired spatial learning and memory, induced EEG abnormalities, and damaged the hippocampal ultrastructure in rats. Simultaneous exposure to multiple microwave frequencies induced more severe impairments than exposure to a single microwave frequency. VAMP8, Syn7, and VMAT might be key molecules underlying the cognitive impairments caused by exposure to simultaneous microwave radiation. 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

PopulationMale Wistar rats

Sample size120

Exposuremicrowave · 6 min

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with sham, microwave-exposed groups showed impaired spatial learning and memory, decreased cortical excitability, and hippocampal ultrastructure damage, with more severe effects reported in the 1.5 GHz and simultaneous 1.5+4.3 GHz groups. Differentially expressed serum exosomal proteins were reported between sham and exposure groups (54 in 1.5 GHz, 145 in 4.3 GHz, 296 in simultaneous exposure), with involvement in synaptic vesicle cycle and SNARE interactions; VAMP8, Syn7, and VMAT were proposed as potential serum markers of simultaneous exposure.

Outcomes measured

Spatial learning and memory (Morris Water Maze)
Cortical electrical activity/excitability (EEG)
Hippocampal ultrastructure (TEM)
Serum exosome characterization (WB, nanoparticle tracking, TEM)
Differential serum exosome protein expression (label-free quantitative proteomics)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "6 min"
  },
  "population": "Male Wistar rats",
  "sample_size": 120,
  "outcomes": [
    "Spatial learning and memory (Morris Water Maze)",
    "Cortical electrical activity/excitability (EEG)",
    "Hippocampal ultrastructure (TEM)",
    "Serum exosome characterization (WB, nanoparticle tracking, TEM)",
    "Differential serum exosome protein expression (label-free quantitative proteomics)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with sham, microwave-exposed groups showed impaired spatial learning and memory, decreased cortical excitability, and hippocampal ultrastructure damage, with more severe effects reported in the 1.5 GHz and simultaneous 1.5+4.3 GHz groups. Differentially expressed serum exosomal proteins were reported between sham and exposure groups (54 in 1.5 GHz, 145 in 4.3 GHz, 296 in simultaneous exposure), with involvement in synaptic vesicle cycle and SNARE interactions; VAMP8, Syn7, and VMAT were proposed as potential serum markers of simultaneous exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "rat",
    "Wistar",
    "microwave",
    "1.5 GHz",
    "4.3 GHz",
    "simultaneous exposure",
    "SAR",
    "power density",
    "Morris Water Maze",
    "EEG",
    "hippocampus",
    "ultrastructure",
    "serum exosomes",
    "proteomics",
    "synaptic vesicle cycle",
    "SNARE",
    "VAMP8",
    "Syn7",
    "VMAT"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "animal-studies",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Experimental microwave exposure study in rats with behavioral, EEG, and molecular outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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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.ecoenv.2022.113983
PubMed: Not supplied

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