Reactive oxygen species levels and DNA fragmentation on astrocytes in primary culture after acute exposure to low intensity microwave electromagnetic field.

Neuroscience letters · 2010 · Harm · Low evidence

← Research stream

HarmLow evidencePaper 4394

Exposure to 900 MHz amplitude modulated EMF for 20 minutes significantly increased ROS levels and DNA fragmentation in astrocytes, with no change in cellular viability. No effects were observed with shorter exposures or continuous waves. Thermal effects were …

Study snapshot

PublicationNeuroscience letters · 2010

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The exposure of primary rat neocortical astroglial cell cultures to acute electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the microwave range was studied. Differentiated astroglial cell cultures at 14 days in vitro were exposed for 5, 10, or 20min to either 900MHz continuous waves or 900MHz waves modulated in amplitude at 50Hz using a sinusoidal waveform and 100% modulation index. The strength of the electric field (rms value) at the sample position was 10V/m. No change in cellular viability evaluated by MTT test and lactate dehydrogenase release was observed. A significant increase in ROS levels and DNA fragmentation was found only after exposure of the astrocytes to modulated EMF for 20min. No evident effects were detected when shorter time intervals or continuous waves were used. The irradiation conditions allowed the exclusion of any possible thermal effect. Our data demonstrate, for the first time, that even acute exposure to low intensity EMF induces ROS production and DNA fragmentation in astrocytes in primary cultures, which also represent the principal target of modulated EMF. Our findings also suggest the hypothesis that the effects could be due to hyperstimulation of the glutamate receptors, which play a crucial role in acute and chronic brain damage. Furthermore, the results show the importance of the amplitude modulation in the interaction between EMF and neocortical astrocytes.

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 typein_vitro

Effect directionharm

Populationprimary rat neocortical astroglial cell cultures

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · 900 MHz · 5, 10, or 20 minutes

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 60% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels
DNA fragmentation
cellular viability (MTT test and lactate dehydrogenase release)

Limitations

in vitro study, limiting direct extrapolation to in vivo or human effects
sample size not reported
only acute exposure studied

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "5, 10, or 20 minutes"
  },
  "population": "primary rat neocortical astroglial cell cultures",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels",
    "DNA fragmentation",
    "cellular viability (MTT test and lactate dehydrogenase release)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to 900 MHz amplitude modulated EMF for 20 minutes significantly increased ROS levels and DNA fragmentation in astrocytes, with no change in cellular viability. No effects were observed with shorter exposures or continuous waves. Thermal effects were excluded.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "in vitro study, limiting direct extrapolation to in vivo or human effects",
    "sample size not reported",
    "only acute exposure studied"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.6,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "reactive oxygen species",
    "DNA fragmentation",
    "astrocytes",
    "microwave electromagnetic field",
    "amplitude modulation",
    "in vitro"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.5,
      "reason": "Study of microwave EMF effects relevant to occupational or environmental exposure scenarios."
    }
  ]
}

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.neulet.2010.02.018
PubMed: 20156525

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library