Effect of 900-MHz Electromagnetic Field on the Cerebellum: A Histopathological Investigation.

Sisli Etfal Hastanesi tip bulteni · 2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5534

Rats exposed to 900-MHz RF-EMF showed intense caspase-3 expression in Purkinje and granular cells (p<0.05), with notable pyknotic nuclei and decreased cytoplasm in these cells. Thickness of cerebellar cortical layers was decreased in the EMF group versus cont…

Study snapshot

PublicationSisli Etfal Hastanesi tip bulteni · 2018

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The currently widely used technological devices give rise to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at various frequencies. Recent studies have reported that EMFs damage the central nervous system. The cerebellum is of considerable importance to human life due to its involvement in motor control, language, and cognitive-sensory functions. Damage occurring in the histological layers of the cerebellar cortex causes various neurological and psychiatric diseases, such as paralysis, tumor, autism, and schizophrenia. Our study involved a histopathological evaluation of the effects of communication systems' standard 900-MHz EMF on the cerebellum. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into two groups containing six animals each: control and EMF. The EMF group was exposed to a 24-h 900-MHz radiofrequency EMF over 20 days with a digital modulation signal generator installed in the middle of their cage. Ten days after EMF application, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation under anesthesia induced with 50 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride and 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal xylazine HC1. RESULTS: Intense caspase-3 expression was seen in the Purkinje cells and granular cells exposed to a 900-MHz frequency EMF (p<0.05). Pyknotic nuclei were notable in the Purkinje and granular cells exposed to a 900-MHz EMF. We also observed a decrease in the cytoplasm of the Purkinje and granular cells. Specimens from the EMF group exhibited decreases in the thickness of the molecular cell layer, Purkinje cell layer, and granular cell layer compared with those from the control group. However, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: A 900-MHz EMF causes deleterious effects on the cerebellum by giving rise to apoptosis accompanied by caspase-3 expression in the Purkinje and granular cells in particular.

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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

PopulationSprague-Dawley rats

Sample size12

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 24 h exposure over 20 days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Cerebellum histopathology
Caspase-3 expression in Purkinje and granular cells (apoptosis marker)
Pyknotic nuclei in Purkinje and granular cells
Cytoplasm changes in Purkinje and granular cells
Thickness of cerebellar cortex layers (molecular, Purkinje, granular)

Limitations

Small sample size (6 rats per group)
SAR/dosimetry not reported
Exposure description lacks details beyond frequency, duration, and signal generator placement

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "communication systems (signal generator in cage)",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "24 h exposure over 20 days"
  },
  "population": "Sprague-Dawley rats",
  "sample_size": 12,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cerebellum histopathology",
    "Caspase-3 expression in Purkinje and granular cells (apoptosis marker)",
    "Pyknotic nuclei in Purkinje and granular cells",
    "Cytoplasm changes in Purkinje and granular cells",
    "Thickness of cerebellar cortex layers (molecular, Purkinje, granular)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 900-MHz RF-EMF showed intense caspase-3 expression in Purkinje and granular cells (p<0.05), with notable pyknotic nuclei and decreased cytoplasm in these cells. Thickness of cerebellar cortical layers was decreased in the EMF group versus controls, but differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (6 rats per group)",
    "SAR/dosimetry not reported",
    "Exposure description lacks details beyond frequency, duration, and signal generator placement"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "900 MHz",
    "radiofrequency",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "cerebellum",
    "Purkinje cells",
    "granular cells",
    "caspase-3",
    "apoptosis",
    "histopathology",
    "Sprague-Dawley rat"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "animal-studies",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "In vivo rat experiment assessing RF-EMF effects on cerebellar 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: 10.14744/semb.2018.42275
PubMed: 32595386

Read the original paper →

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