Acute exposure to GSM 900-MHz electromagnetic fields induces glial reactivity and biochemical modifications in the rat brain.

Neurobiology of disease · 2004 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5207

Study snapshot

PublicationNeurobiology of disease · 2004

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The worldwide proliferation of mobile phones raises the question of the effects of 900-MHz electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the brain. Using a head-only exposure device in the rat, we showed that a 15-min exposure to 900-MHz pulsed microwaves at a high brain-averaged power of 6 W/kg induced a strong glial reaction in the brain. This effect, which suggests neuronal damage, was particularly pronounced in the striatum. Moreover, we observed significant and immediate effects on the Kd and Bmax values of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and GABA(A) receptors as well as on dopamine transporters. Decrease of the amount of NMDA receptors at the postsynaptic membrane is also reported. Although we showed that the rat general locomotor behavior was not significantly altered on the short term, our results provide the first evidence for rapid cellular and molecular alterations in the rat brain after an acute exposure to high power GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) 900-MHz microwaves.

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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 directionmixed

PopulationRat

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 6 W/kg · 15 min (acute, head-only exposure)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In rats using a head-only exposure device, a 15-min exposure to 900-MHz pulsed microwaves at a brain-averaged power of 6 W/kg induced a strong glial reaction, particularly in the striatum. Significant immediate changes were reported in Kd and Bmax for NMDA and GABA(A) receptors and dopamine transporters, along with a decrease in the amount of NMDA receptors at the postsynaptic membrane. Short-term general locomotor behavior was not significantly altered.

Outcomes measured

Glial reactivity in brain
Biochemical modifications in brain
NMDA receptor binding parameters (Kd, Bmax)
GABA(A) receptor binding parameters (Kd, Bmax)
Dopamine transporter binding parameters
NMDA receptor amount at postsynaptic membrane
General locomotor behavior (short-term)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
Exposure described as high brain-averaged power (6 W/kg); generalizability to typical exposures not addressed in the provided abstract
Short-term/acute exposure only (15 min); longer-term effects not assessed in the provided abstract
Animal study; relevance to humans not established in the provided abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": 6,
    "duration": "15 min (acute, head-only exposure)"
  },
  "population": "Rat",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Glial reactivity in brain",
    "Biochemical modifications in brain",
    "NMDA receptor binding parameters (Kd, Bmax)",
    "GABA(A) receptor binding parameters (Kd, Bmax)",
    "Dopamine transporter binding parameters",
    "NMDA receptor amount at postsynaptic membrane",
    "General locomotor behavior (short-term)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In rats using a head-only exposure device, a 15-min exposure to 900-MHz pulsed microwaves at a brain-averaged power of 6 W/kg induced a strong glial reaction, particularly in the striatum. Significant immediate changes were reported in Kd and Bmax for NMDA and GABA(A) receptors and dopamine transporters, along with a decrease in the amount of NMDA receptors at the postsynaptic membrane. Short-term general locomotor behavior was not significantly altered.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure described as high brain-averaged power (6 W/kg); generalizability to typical exposures not addressed in the provided abstract",
    "Short-term/acute exposure only (15 min); longer-term effects not assessed in the provided abstract",
    "Animal study; relevance to humans not established in the provided abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "900 MHz",
    "pulsed microwaves",
    "RF EMF",
    "SAR 6 W/kg",
    "head-only exposure",
    "rat brain",
    "glial reactivity",
    "striatum",
    "NMDA receptor",
    "GABA(A) receptor",
    "dopamine transporter",
    "locomotor behavior"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Animal study of RF exposure relevant to broader RF health evidence base; no explicit policy content in abstract."
    }
  ]
}

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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.nbd.2004.07.004
PubMed: 15571980

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