Maternal mobile phone exposure alters intrinsic electrophysiological properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat offspring.

Toxicology and industrial health · 2016 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4700

Study snapshot

PublicationToxicology and industrial health · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Some studies have shown that exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF) may result in structural damage to neurons. In this study, we have elucidated the alteration in the hippocampal function of offspring Wistar rats (n = 8 rats in each group) that were chronically exposed to mobile phones during their gestational period by applying behavioral, histological, and electrophysiological tests. Rats in the EMF group were exposed to 900 MHz pulsed-EMF irradiation for 6 h/day. Whole cell recordings in hippocampal pyramidal cells in the mobile phone groups did show a decrease in neuronal excitability. Mobile phone exposure was mostly associated with a decrease in the number of action potentials fired in spontaneous activity and in response to current injection in both male and female groups. There was an increase in the amplitude of the afterhyperpolarization (AHP) in mobile phone rats compared with the control. The results of the passive avoidance and Morris water maze assessment of learning and memory performance showed that phone exposure significantly altered learning acquisition and memory retention in male and female rats compared with the control rats. Light microscopy study of brain sections of the control and mobile phone-exposed rats showed normal morphology.Our results suggest that exposure to mobile phones adversely affects the cognitive performance of both female and male offspring rats using behavioral and electrophysiological techniques.

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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

PopulationOffspring Wistar rats (male and female) from dams exposed during gestation

Sample size16

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · Gestational exposure; 6 h/day (chronic)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Offspring from the EMF-exposed group (900 MHz pulsed EMF, 6 h/day during gestation) showed decreased neuronal excitability in hippocampal pyramidal cells, including fewer action potentials and increased AHP amplitude versus controls. Behavioral testing (passive avoidance and Morris water maze) indicated significantly altered learning acquisition and memory retention in both male and female rats compared with controls. Light microscopy showed normal morphology in both control and exposed groups.

Outcomes measured

Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron excitability (whole-cell recordings)
Number of action potentials (spontaneous activity and in response to current injection)
Afterhyperpolarization (AHP) amplitude
Learning and memory performance (passive avoidance, Morris water maze)
Brain morphology by light microscopy

Limitations

Specific gestational exposure window not described in the abstract
No SAR or dosimetry details reported in the abstract
Small group size (n=8 rats per group)
Light microscopy reported normal morphology despite functional/behavioral changes (mechanistic interpretation unclear from abstract)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Gestational exposure; 6 h/day (chronic)"
  },
  "population": "Offspring Wistar rats (male and female) from dams exposed during gestation",
  "sample_size": 16,
  "outcomes": [
    "Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron excitability (whole-cell recordings)",
    "Number of action potentials (spontaneous activity and in response to current injection)",
    "Afterhyperpolarization (AHP) amplitude",
    "Learning and memory performance (passive avoidance, Morris water maze)",
    "Brain morphology by light microscopy"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Offspring from the EMF-exposed group (900 MHz pulsed EMF, 6 h/day during gestation) showed decreased neuronal excitability in hippocampal pyramidal cells, including fewer action potentials and increased AHP amplitude versus controls. Behavioral testing (passive avoidance and Morris water maze) indicated significantly altered learning acquisition and memory retention in both male and female rats compared with controls. Light microscopy showed normal morphology in both control and exposed groups.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Specific gestational exposure window not described in the abstract",
    "No SAR or dosimetry details reported in the abstract",
    "Small group size (n=8 rats per group)",
    "Light microscopy reported normal morphology despite functional/behavioral changes (mechanistic interpretation unclear from abstract)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "900 MHz",
    "pulsed EMF",
    "gestation",
    "offspring",
    "hippocampus",
    "CA1",
    "pyramidal neurons",
    "electrophysiology",
    "afterhyperpolarization",
    "Morris water maze",
    "passive avoidance",
    "learning",
    "memory"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-animal-studies",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Rat gestational exposure to 900 MHz mobile-phone-like RF with behavioral and electrophysiological outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1177/0748233714525497
PubMed: 24604340

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