Glial markers and emotional memory in rats following acute cerebral radiofrequency exposures.

Environmental science and pollution research international · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4819

Total GFAP increased in the striatum (+114%) at 1.5 W/kg. At 6 W/kg for 15 min, long-term memory was reduced and cytosolic GFAP increased in the hippocampus (+119%) and olfactory bulb (+46%). No modifications were observed for MBP or Aβ1-40.

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental science and pollution research international · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The widespread mobile phone use raises concerns on the possible cerebral effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF). Reactive astrogliosis was reported in neuroanatomical structures of adaptive behaviors after a single RF EMF exposure at high specific absorption rate (SAR, 6 W/kg). Here, we aimed to assess if neuronal injury and functional impairments were related to high SAR-induced astrogliosis. In addition, the level of beta amyloid 1-40 (Aβ 1-40) peptide was explored as a possible toxicity marker. Sprague Dawley male rats were exposed for 15 min at 0, 1.5, or 6 W/kg or for 45 min at 6 W/kg. Memory, emotionality, and locomotion were tested in the fear conditioning, the elevated plus maze, and the open field. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, total and cytosolic fractions), myelin basic protein (MBP), and Aβ1-40 were quantified in six brain areas using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. According to our data, total GFAP was increased in the striatum (+114 %) at 1.5 W/kg. Long-term memory was reduced, and cytosolic GFAP was increased in the hippocampus (+119 %) and in the olfactory bulb (+46 %) at 6 W/kg (15 min). No MBP or Aβ1-40 expression modification was shown. Our data corroborates previous studies indicating RF EMF-induced astrogliosis. This study suggests that RF EMF-induced astrogliosis had functional consequences on memory but did not demonstrate that it was secondary to neuronal damage.

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

PopulationSprague Dawley male rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 6 W/kg · 15 min (0, 1.5, or 6 W/kg) or 45 min at 6 W/kg

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Astrogliosis / GFAP (total and cytosolic) in multiple brain areas
Myelin basic protein (MBP) expression
Beta amyloid 1-40 (Aβ1-40) levels
Long-term memory (fear conditioning)
Emotionality (elevated plus maze)
Locomotion (open field)

Limitations

Frequency not reported in abstract
Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure source described in general context (mobile phone use) but specific exposure system not detailed in abstract
Neuronal injury was not demonstrated; study did not show astrogliosis was secondary to neuronal damage

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 6,
    "duration": "15 min (0, 1.5, or 6 W/kg) or 45 min at 6 W/kg"
  },
  "population": "Sprague Dawley male rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Astrogliosis / GFAP (total and cytosolic) in multiple brain areas",
    "Myelin basic protein (MBP) expression",
    "Beta amyloid 1-40 (Aβ1-40) levels",
    "Long-term memory (fear conditioning)",
    "Emotionality (elevated plus maze)",
    "Locomotion (open field)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Total GFAP increased in the striatum (+114%) at 1.5 W/kg. At 6 W/kg for 15 min, long-term memory was reduced and cytosolic GFAP increased in the hippocampus (+119%) and olfactory bulb (+46%). No modifications were observed for MBP or Aβ1-40.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency not reported in abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure source described in general context (mobile phone use) but specific exposure system not detailed in abstract",
    "Neuronal injury was not demonstrated; study did not show astrogliosis was secondary to neuronal damage"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF EMF",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "SAR",
    "rats",
    "astrogliosis",
    "GFAP",
    "hippocampus",
    "striatum",
    "olfactory bulb",
    "fear conditioning",
    "memory",
    "elevated plus maze",
    "open field",
    "MBP",
    "beta amyloid 1-40"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.1007/s11356-016-7758-y
PubMed: 27696165

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