Long-term exposure of 2450 MHz electromagnetic radiation induces stress and anxiety like behavior in rats

2019 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1836

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Long-term exposure of 2450 MHz electromagnetic radiation induces stress and anxiety like behavior in rats Gupta SK, Patel SK, Tomar MS, Singh SK, Mesharam MK, Krishnamurthy S. Long-term exposure of 2450 MHz electromagnetic radiation induces stress and anxiety like behavior in rats. Neurochemistry International. Publ. online Apr 4, 2019. Highlights • EMR-2450 MHz induces stress and aggravates anxiety-like symptoms in rats. • Exposure of EMR-2450 MHz increases plasma corticosterone level and, expression of CRH-2 and GR in amygdala. • Increased expression of cytochrome-C and caspase-9 indicating mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of apoptosis. • Change in expression of mitochondrial Bax: Bcl2 ratio indicating modulation of apoptosis. • EMR-2450 MHz exposure causes both amygdalar necrotic and apoptotic cell death. Abstract Long term exposure of electromagnetic radiations (EMR) from cell phones and Wi-Fi hold greater propensity to cause anxiety disorders. However, the studies investigating the effects of chronic exposure of EMR are limited. Therefore, we investigated the effects of repeated exposure of discrete frequency of EMR in experimental animals. Male rats were exposed to EMR (900, 1800 and 2450 MHz) for 28 (1 h/day) days. Long term exposure of EMR (2450 MHz) induced anxiety like behavior. It deregulated the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in rats as observed by increase in plasma corticosterone levels apart from decreased corticotrophin releasing hormone-2 (CRH-2) and Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in amygdala. Further, it impaired mitochondrial function and integrity. The expression of Bcl2 showed significant decrease while Bax and ratio of Bax: Bcl2 were increased in the mitochondria and vice versa in cytoplasm indicating altered regulation of apoptosis. EMR exposure caused release of cytochrome-c and expression of caspase-9 ensuing activation of apoptotic cell death. Additional set of experiments performed to estimate the pattern of cell death showed necrotic and apoptotic amygdalar cell death after EMR exposure. Histopathological studies also revealed a significant decrease in neuronal cells in amygdala. The above findings indicate that long-term exposure of EMR radiation (2450 MHz) acts as a stressor and induces anxiety-like behaviors with concomitant pathophysiological changes in EMR subjected rats. Excerpts The average power density was 0.1227 W/m2. The whole body SAR values was found in between the 0.025- 0.070 W/kg range, representing an average SAR value to be approximately 0.042 W/kg. The value of SAR in head region was found to be 0.131 W/kg (900, 1800 and 2450 MHz) with a value of power density 0.1227 W/m2.... All the rats were distributed into four different groups of six each. They were designated as control, EMR-900, EMR-1800 and EMR-2450 The groups, EMR-900 MHz, EMR-1800 MHz and EMR-2450 MHz were continuously exposed to electromagnetic radiations between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for 1 h for 28 days beginning from D-1. After 15 min of EMR exposure on D-1 to D-28 at 7 day interval, behavioral assessments were performed.... In this study, we have shown that rats sub-chronically exposed to EMR at a frequency of 2450 MHz exhibited anxiety-like symptoms. Repeated EMR-2450 MHz exposure caused an increase in corticosterone levels while the expression of CRH-2 and GR expression were significantly reduced in amygdala. EMR exposed animals showed alterations in the mitochondrial function and integrity. It also induced apoptotic factors leading to decrease of neuronal cells in the amygdalar region.... ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Note: This was not Wi-Fi because the signals were not modulated.

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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

PopulationMale rats

Sample size24

ExposureRF · 2450 MHz · 0.042 W/kg · 1 h/day for 28 days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Male rats exposed to EMR at 2450 MHz (1 h/day for 28 days) showed anxiety-like behavior and increased plasma corticosterone, with decreased CRH-2 and GR expression in the amygdala. The study reports mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of apoptotic pathways (including cytochrome-c release and caspase-9 expression), with evidence of both necrotic and apoptotic amygdalar cell death and reduced neuronal cells in the amygdala after EMR exposure.

Outcomes measured

Anxiety-like behavior
Stress/HPA-axis markers (plasma corticosterone)
Amygdala CRH-2 expression
Amygdala glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression
Mitochondrial dysfunction markers (Bax, Bcl2, Bax:Bcl2 ratio)
Apoptosis markers (cytochrome-c, caspase-9)
Necrotic and apoptotic cell death in amygdala
Histopathology: neuronal cell decrease in amygdala

Limitations

Animal study; generalizability to humans not established in the abstract
Small group sizes (four groups of six rats each)
Exposure described as discrete frequency EMR; modulation characteristics not described in the abstract/excerpts

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": 0.042,
    "duration": "1 h/day for 28 days"
  },
  "population": "Male rats",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Anxiety-like behavior",
    "Stress/HPA-axis markers (plasma corticosterone)",
    "Amygdala CRH-2 expression",
    "Amygdala glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression",
    "Mitochondrial dysfunction markers (Bax, Bcl2, Bax:Bcl2 ratio)",
    "Apoptosis markers (cytochrome-c, caspase-9)",
    "Necrotic and apoptotic cell death in amygdala",
    "Histopathology: neuronal cell decrease in amygdala"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Male rats exposed to EMR at 2450 MHz (1 h/day for 28 days) showed anxiety-like behavior and increased plasma corticosterone, with decreased CRH-2 and GR expression in the amygdala. The study reports mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of apoptotic pathways (including cytochrome-c release and caspase-9 expression), with evidence of both necrotic and apoptotic amygdalar cell death and reduced neuronal cells in the amygdala after EMR exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not established in the abstract",
    "Small group sizes (four groups of six rats each)",
    "Exposure described as discrete frequency EMR; modulation characteristics not described in the abstract/excerpts"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "2450 MHz",
    "RF-EMR",
    "rats",
    "anxiety-like behavior",
    "stress",
    "HPA axis",
    "corticosterone",
    "amygdala",
    "CRH-2",
    "glucocorticoid receptor",
    "mitochondria",
    "apoptosis",
    "cytochrome-c",
    "caspase-9",
    "Bax",
    "Bcl2",
    "SAR",
    "power density"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mechanisms-oxidative-stress-apoptosis",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Reports mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis/necrosis markers in amygdala after 2450 MHz exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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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.

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