The effects of prenatal exposure to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field on the 21-day-old male rat heart.

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2015 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4665

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2015

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The growing spread of mobile phone use is raising concerns about the effect on human health of the electromagnetic field (EMF) these devices emit. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on rat pup heart tissue of prenatal exposure to a 900 megahertz (MHz) EMF. For this purpose, pregnant rats were divided into experimental and control groups. Experimental group rats were exposed to a 900 MHz EMF (1 h/d) on days 13-21 of pregnancy. Measurements were performed with rats inside the exposure box in order to determine the distribution of EMF intensity. Our measurements showed that pregnant experimental group rats were exposed to a mean electrical field intensity of 13.77 V/m inside the box (0.50 W/m(2)). This study continued with male rat pups obtained from both groups. Pups were sacrificed on postnatal day 21, and the heart tissues were extracted. Malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and catalase values were significantly higher in the experimental group rats, while glutathione values were lower. Light microscopy revealed irregularities in heart muscle fibers and apoptotic changes in the experimental group. Electron microscopy revealed crista loss and swelling in the mitochondria, degeneration in myofibrils and structural impairments in Z bands. Our study results suggest that exposure to EMF in the prenatal period causes oxidative stress and histopathological changes in male rat pup heart tissue.

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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

PopulationPregnant rats and male rat pups (assessed at postnatal day 21)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 1 h/day on gestational days 13–21

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Prenatal exposure to 900 MHz EMF (1 h/day, gestational days 13–21) was associated with higher malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase and lower glutathione in male rat pup heart tissue at postnatal day 21. Microscopy findings in the exposed group included irregular heart muscle fibers, apoptotic changes, mitochondrial crista loss and swelling, myofibril degeneration, and Z-band structural impairments.

Outcomes measured

Heart tissue oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione)
Histopathology of heart tissue (light microscopy)
Ultrastructural changes in heart tissue (electron microscopy; mitochondria, myofibrils, Z bands)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
No SAR reported; exposure characterized by mean electric field intensity (13.77 V/m) and power density (0.50 W/m²) only
Only male pups assessed (sex-specific generalizability unclear)
Animal study; human health implications not directly established

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone (900 MHz EMF exposure box)",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 h/day on gestational days 13–21"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant rats and male rat pups (assessed at postnatal day 21)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Heart tissue oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione)",
    "Histopathology of heart tissue (light microscopy)",
    "Ultrastructural changes in heart tissue (electron microscopy; mitochondria, myofibrils, Z bands)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Prenatal exposure to 900 MHz EMF (1 h/day, gestational days 13–21) was associated with higher malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase and lower glutathione in male rat pup heart tissue at postnatal day 21. Microscopy findings in the exposed group included irregular heart muscle fibers, apoptotic changes, mitochondrial crista loss and swelling, myofibril degeneration, and Z-band structural impairments.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "No SAR reported; exposure characterized by mean electric field intensity (13.77 V/m) and power density (0.50 W/m²) only",
    "Only male pups assessed (sex-specific generalizability unclear)",
    "Animal study; human health implications not directly established"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "prenatal exposure",
    "900 MHz",
    "RF-EMF",
    "rat",
    "heart",
    "oxidative stress",
    "malondialdehyde",
    "superoxide dismutase",
    "catalase",
    "glutathione",
    "histopathology",
    "electron microscopy",
    "mitochondria",
    "apoptosis"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-animal-studies",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Animal experiment assessing prenatal 900 MHz RF-EMF effects on offspring heart tissue."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3109/15368378.2014.952742
PubMed: 25166431

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