Acute radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation exposure impairs neurogenesis and causes neuronal DNA damage in the young rat brain

Neurotoxicology · 2022 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 649

Study snapshot

PublicationNeurotoxicology · 2022

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Acute radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation exposure impairs neurogenesis and causes neuronal DNA damage in the young rat brain Singh KV, Prakash C, Nirala JP, Nanda RK, Rajamani P. Acute radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation exposure impairs neurogenesis and causes neuronal DNA damage in the young rat brain. Neurotoxicology. 2022 Nov 3:S0161-813X(22)00174-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.11.001. Highlights • The study investigates the harmful effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) exposure on the developing brain. • RF-EMR exposure causes oxidative damage to lipids and DNA in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus region of the young brain. • Hippocampal neurogenesis has been markedly reduced after RF-EMR exposure. • RF-EMR exposure induces degenerative changes in dentate gyrus neurons. • RF-EMR exposure does not activate the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. Abstract A mobile phone is now a commonly used device for digital media and communication among all age groups. Young adolescents use it for longer durations, which exposes them to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR). This exposure can lead to neuropsychiatric changes. The underlying cellular mechanism behind these changes requires detailed investigation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of RF-EMR emitted from mobile phones on young adolescent rat brains. Wistar rats (5 weeks, male) were exposed to RF-EMR signal (2,115MHz) at a head average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1.51W/kg continuously for 8h. Higher level of lipid peroxidation, carbon-centered lipid radicals, and single-strand DNA damage was observed in the brain of rat exposed to RF-EMR. The number of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) decreased in RF-EMR- exposed rats, indicating reduced neurogenesis. RF-EMR exposure also induced degenerative changes and neuronal loss in DG neurons but had no effect on the CA3 and CA1 neurons of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. The activity of Pro-caspase3 did not increase upon exposure in any of the brain regions, pointing out that degeneration observed in the DG region is not dependent on caspase activation. Results indicate that short-term acute exposure to RF-EMR induced the generation of carbon-centered lipid radicals and nuclear DNA damage, both of which likely played a role in the impaired neurogenesis and neuronal degeneration seen in the young brain's hippocampus region. The understanding of RF-EMR-induced alteration in the brain at the cellular level will help develop appropriate interventions for reducing its adverse impact. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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

PopulationYoung adolescent male Wistar rats (5 weeks old)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 2115 MHz · 1.51 W/kg · continuous for 8 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Male Wistar rats exposed to a 2,115 MHz RF-EMR signal (head-average SAR 1.51 W/kg) continuously for 8 h showed increased lipid peroxidation, carbon-centered lipid radicals, and single-strand DNA damage in brain tissue. BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus decreased (reduced neurogenesis), and degenerative changes with neuronal loss were reported in dentate gyrus neurons, with no effect reported in CA3/CA1 neurons or cerebral cortex; pro-caspase3 activity did not increase.

Outcomes measured

Lipid peroxidation
Carbon-centered lipid radicals
Single-strand DNA damage
Hippocampal neurogenesis (BrdU-positive cells in dentate gyrus)
Neuronal degeneration and loss in dentate gyrus
Neuronal effects in CA3 and CA1 hippocampal regions
Neuronal effects in cerebral cortex
Pro-caspase3 activity (caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
Animal study (young male rats); generalizability to humans not established in provided text
Acute exposure only (8 h); does not address chronic exposure in provided text

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 2115,
    "sar_wkg": 1.51,
    "duration": "continuous for 8 h"
  },
  "population": "Young adolescent male Wistar rats (5 weeks old)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Lipid peroxidation",
    "Carbon-centered lipid radicals",
    "Single-strand DNA damage",
    "Hippocampal neurogenesis (BrdU-positive cells in dentate gyrus)",
    "Neuronal degeneration and loss in dentate gyrus",
    "Neuronal effects in CA3 and CA1 hippocampal regions",
    "Neuronal effects in cerebral cortex",
    "Pro-caspase3 activity (caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Male Wistar rats exposed to a 2,115 MHz RF-EMR signal (head-average SAR 1.51 W/kg) continuously for 8 h showed increased lipid peroxidation, carbon-centered lipid radicals, and single-strand DNA damage in brain tissue. BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus decreased (reduced neurogenesis), and degenerative changes with neuronal loss were reported in dentate gyrus neurons, with no effect reported in CA3/CA1 neurons or cerebral cortex; pro-caspase3 activity did not increase.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Animal study (young male rats); generalizability to humans not established in provided text",
    "Acute exposure only (8 h); does not address chronic exposure in provided text"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation",
    "RF-EMR",
    "mobile phone",
    "2115 MHz",
    "SAR",
    "young rat brain",
    "hippocampus",
    "dentate gyrus",
    "neurogenesis",
    "BrdU",
    "DNA damage",
    "lipid peroxidation",
    "oxidative damage",
    "pro-caspase3"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Exposure described as RF-EMR emitted from mobile phones at 2,115 MHz with reported SAR."
    }
  ]
}

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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.neuro.2022.11.001
PubMed: 36336097

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