Effects of GSM modulated radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation on permeability of blood-brain barrier in male & female rats

J Chem Neuroanat · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 2435

Study snapshot

PublicationJ Chem Neuroanat · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

With the increased use of mobile phones, their biological and health effects have become more important. Usage of mobile phones near the head increases the possibility of effects on brain tissue. This study was designed to investigate the possible effects of pulse modulated 900MHz and 1800MHz radio-frequency radiation on the permeability of blood-brain barrier of rats. Study was performed with 6 groups of young adult male and female wistar albino rats. The permeability of blood-brain barrier to intravenously injected evans blue dye was quantitatively examined for both control and radio-frequency radiarion exposed groups. For male groups; Evans blue content in the whole brain was found to be 0.08±0.01mg% in the control, 0.13±0.03mg% in 900MHz exposed and 0.26±0.05mg% in 1800MHz exposed animals. In both male radio-frequency radiation exposed groups, the permeability of blood-brain barrier found to be increased with respect to the controls (p<0.01). 1800MHz pulse modulated radio-frequency radiation exposure was found more effective on the male animals (p<0.01). For female groups; dye contents in the whole brains were 0.14±0.01mg% in the control, 0.24±0.03mg% in 900MHz exposed and 0.14±0.02mg% in 1800MHz exposed animals. No statistical variance found between the control and 1800MHz exposed animals (p>0.01). However 900MHz pulse modulated radio-frequency exposure was found effective on the permeability of blood-brain barrier of female animals. Results have shown that 20min pulse modulated radio-frequency radiation exposure of 900MHz and 1800MHz induces an effect and increases the permeability of blood-brain barrier of male rats. For females, 900MHz was found effective and it could be concluded that this result may due to the physiological differences between female and male animals. The results of this study suggest that mobile phone radation could lead to increase the permeability of blood-brain barrier under non-thermal exposure levels. More studies are needed to demonstrate the mechanisms of that breakdown.

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 directionmixed

PopulationYoung adult male and female Wistar albino rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 20 min pulse-modulated exposure (900 MHz and 1800 MHz)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In male rats, whole-brain Evans blue content was higher in both 900 MHz (0.13±0.03 mg%) and 1800 MHz (0.26±0.05 mg%) exposed groups versus control (0.08±0.01 mg%), with increased permeability reported (p<0.01), and 1800 MHz described as more effective (p<0.01). In female rats, 900 MHz exposure showed higher dye content (0.24±0.03 mg%) versus control (0.14±0.01 mg%), while 1800 MHz (0.14±0.02 mg%) did not differ from control (p>0.01).

Outcomes measured

Blood-brain barrier permeability (Evans blue dye content in whole brain)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in abstract
Short exposure duration (20 minutes)
Outcome limited to Evans blue dye measure of BBB permeability; mechanisms not assessed

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "20 min pulse-modulated exposure (900 MHz and 1800 MHz)"
  },
  "population": "Young adult male and female Wistar albino rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Blood-brain barrier permeability (Evans blue dye content in whole brain)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In male rats, whole-brain Evans blue content was higher in both 900 MHz (0.13±0.03 mg%) and 1800 MHz (0.26±0.05 mg%) exposed groups versus control (0.08±0.01 mg%), with increased permeability reported (p<0.01), and 1800 MHz described as more effective (p<0.01). In female rats, 900 MHz exposure showed higher dye content (0.24±0.03 mg%) versus control (0.14±0.01 mg%), while 1800 MHz (0.14±0.02 mg%) did not differ from control (p>0.01).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in abstract",
    "Short exposure duration (20 minutes)",
    "Outcome limited to Evans blue dye measure of BBB permeability; mechanisms not assessed"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "pulse-modulated",
    "900 MHz",
    "1800 MHz",
    "radio-frequency radiation",
    "mobile phone radiation",
    "blood-brain barrier",
    "Evans blue",
    "rats",
    "sex differences"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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.jchemneu.2015.12.010
PubMed: 26723545

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library