Effects of Acute Exposure to 3500 MHz (5G) Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation on Anxiety-Like Behavior and the Auditory Cortex in Guinea Pigs

Bioelectromagnetics · 2022 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 932

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2022

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of Acute Exposure to 3500 MHz (5G) Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation on Anxiety-Like Behavior and the Auditory Cortex in Guinea Pigs Yang H, Zhang Y, Wu X, Gan P, Luo X, Zhong S, Zuo W. Effects of Acute Exposure to 3500 MHz (5G) Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation on Anxiety-Like Behavior and the Auditory Cortex in Guinea Pigs. Bioelectromagnetics. 2022 Jan 23. doi: 10.1002/bem.22388. Abstract Numerous studies have shown that radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) may negatively affect human health. We detected the effect of 3500 MHz RF-EMR on anxiety-like behavior and the auditory cortex (ACx) in guinea pigs. Forty male guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to a continuous wave of 3500 MHz RF-EMF at an average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0, 2, 4, or 10 W/kg for 72 h. After exposure, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, anxiety-like behavior, hearing thresholds, cell ultrastructure, and apoptosis were detected. Our results revealed that hearing thresholds and basic indexes of animal behavior did not change significantly after exposure (P > 0.05). However, the MDA levels of ACx were increased (P < 0.05), and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activities were decreased (P < 0.05) in the exposure groups compared to the sham group. Ultrastructural changes of ACx, including swollen mitochondria and layered myelin sheaths, were observed. Cytochrome-c relocalization, caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3 activation were detected in the exposure groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that oxidative stress is an important mechanism underlying the biological effects of RF-EMR, which can induce ultrastructural damage to the ACx and cell apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent mechanism. Moreover, oxidative stress, apoptosis induction and ultrastructural damage increase in a SAR-dependent manner. However, RF-EMR does not increase hearing thresholds or induce anxiety. 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 directionmixed

PopulationMale guinea pigs

Sample size40

ExposureRF · 3500 MHz · 72 h (acute), continuous wave; SAR groups: 0, 2, 4, 10 W/kg

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 86% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Forty male guinea pigs were exposed to 3500 MHz RF-EMF (continuous wave) at average SAR 0, 2, 4, or 10 W/kg for 72 h. Hearing thresholds and basic indexes of animal behavior, including anxiety-like behavior, did not change significantly after exposure, but auditory cortex MDA increased and antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, GSH-px) decreased in exposed groups versus sham; ultrastructural changes and apoptosis-related markers were observed, described as increasing in a SAR-dependent manner.

Outcomes measured

Anxiety-like behavior
Hearing thresholds
Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in auditory cortex
Antioxidant enzyme activity (CAT, SOD, GSH-px) in auditory cortex
Auditory cortex ultrastructure (e.g., mitochondria, myelin sheaths)
Apoptosis markers (cytochrome-c relocalization, caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3)

Limitations

Animal study (guinea pigs), limiting direct generalization to humans
Acute exposure only (72 h)
Exposure described as continuous wave; real-world 5G signals may differ (not addressed in abstract)
Outcomes focused on auditory cortex biomarkers/ultrastructure; functional outcomes limited (hearing thresholds/anxiety only)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 3500,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "72 h (acute), continuous wave; SAR groups: 0, 2, 4, 10 W/kg"
  },
  "population": "Male guinea pigs",
  "sample_size": 40,
  "outcomes": [
    "Anxiety-like behavior",
    "Hearing thresholds",
    "Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in auditory cortex",
    "Antioxidant enzyme activity (CAT, SOD, GSH-px) in auditory cortex",
    "Auditory cortex ultrastructure (e.g., mitochondria, myelin sheaths)",
    "Apoptosis markers (cytochrome-c relocalization, caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Forty male guinea pigs were exposed to 3500 MHz RF-EMF (continuous wave) at average SAR 0, 2, 4, or 10 W/kg for 72 h. Hearing thresholds and basic indexes of animal behavior, including anxiety-like behavior, did not change significantly after exposure, but auditory cortex MDA increased and antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, GSH-px) decreased in exposed groups versus sham; ultrastructural changes and apoptosis-related markers were observed, described as increasing in a SAR-dependent manner.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal study (guinea pigs), limiting direct generalization to humans",
    "Acute exposure only (72 h)",
    "Exposure described as continuous wave; real-world 5G signals may differ (not addressed in abstract)",
    "Outcomes focused on auditory cortex biomarkers/ultrastructure; functional outcomes limited (hearing thresholds/anxiety only)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.86,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "3500 MHz",
    "5G",
    "RF-EMF",
    "guinea pigs",
    "SAR",
    "auditory cortex",
    "oxidative stress",
    "MDA",
    "CAT",
    "SOD",
    "GSH-px",
    "ultrastructure",
    "apoptosis",
    "caspase-3",
    "caspase-9",
    "cytochrome c",
    "anxiety-like behavior",
    "hearing threshold"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.55,
      "reason": "Study explicitly examines 3500 MHz described as 5G RF-EMR effects."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1002/bem.22388
PubMed: 35066900

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