Continuous exposure to 900MHz GSM-modulated EMF alters morphological maturation of neural cells.

Neuroscience letters · 2009 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4958

In both in vitro models, 900 MHz GSM-modulated RF-EMF exposure at 1 W/kg reduced the number of neurites generated. This morphological alteration correlated with increased beta-thymosin mRNA expression after 24 h exposure.

Study snapshot

PublicationNeuroscience letters · 2009

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on neuronal phenotype maturation have been studied in two different in vitro models: murine SN56 cholinergic cell line and rat primary cortical neurons. The samples were exposed at a dose of 1W/kg at 900 MHz GSM modulated. The phenotype analysis was carried out at 48 and 72 h (24 and 48 h of SN56 cell line differentiation) or at 24, 72, 120 h (2, 4 and 6 days in vitro for cortical neurons) of exposure, on live and immunolabeled neurons, and included the morphological study of neurite emission, outgrowth and branching. Moreover, cortical neurons were studied to detect alterations in the expression pattern of cytoskeleton regulating factors, e.g. beta-thymosin, and of early genes, e.g. c-Fos and c-Jun through real-time PCR on mRNA extracted after 24h exposure to EMF. We found that RF-EMF exposure reduced the number of neurites generated by both cell systems, and this alteration correlates to increased expression of beta-thymosin mRNA.

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

PopulationMurine SN56 cholinergic cell line and rat primary cortical neurons (in vitro)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 1 W/kg · 24–120 h (timepoints at 24, 48, 72, 120 h depending on model)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Neuronal phenotype maturation (morphology)
Neurite emission/generation
Neurite outgrowth
Neurite branching
mRNA expression of cytoskeleton regulating factors (beta-thymosin)
mRNA expression of early genes (c-Fos, c-Jun)

Limitations

In vitro models only (murine cell line and rat primary neurons)
Sample size not reported in the abstract
Limited exposure conditions reported (single frequency/modulation and SAR)
Gene expression results described for beta-thymosin correlation; results for c-Fos/c-Jun not reported in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": 1,
    "duration": "24–120 h (timepoints at 24, 48, 72, 120 h depending on model)"
  },
  "population": "Murine SN56 cholinergic cell line and rat primary cortical neurons (in vitro)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Neuronal phenotype maturation (morphology)",
    "Neurite emission/generation",
    "Neurite outgrowth",
    "Neurite branching",
    "mRNA expression of cytoskeleton regulating factors (beta-thymosin)",
    "mRNA expression of early genes (c-Fos, c-Jun)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In both in vitro models, 900 MHz GSM-modulated RF-EMF exposure at 1 W/kg reduced the number of neurites generated. This morphological alteration correlated with increased beta-thymosin mRNA expression after 24 h exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro models only (murine cell line and rat primary neurons)",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "Limited exposure conditions reported (single frequency/modulation and SAR)",
    "Gene expression results described for beta-thymosin correlation; results for c-Fos/c-Jun not reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "900 MHz",
    "GSM",
    "SAR 1 W/kg",
    "in vitro",
    "SN56",
    "primary cortical neurons",
    "neurite outgrowth",
    "neurite branching",
    "beta-thymosin",
    "c-Fos",
    "c-Jun"
  ],
  "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: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.03.061
PubMed: 19429115

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