The effect of exposure of rats during prenatal period to radiation spreading from mobile phones on renal development.

PAPER pubmed Renal failure 2015 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.3109/0886022x.2014.985995 PMID: 25691088 Evidence Lab

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exposure to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) produced by mobile phones on the renal development of prenatal rats. Histopathological changes and apoptosis in the kidneys, together with levels of urea, creatinine and electrolyte in serum were determined. METHODS: A total of 14 Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. Pregnant rats were divided into two equal groups: a control group and an EMF-exposed group. The study group was exposed to 900-MHz of EMF during the first 20 days of pregnancy, while the control group was unexposed to EMF. Sections obtained from paraffin blocks were stained for caspase-3 by immunohistochemistry, hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome. RESULTS: Mild congestion and tubular defects, and dilatation of Bowman's capsule were observed in the kidney tissues of rats in the exposed group. Apoptosis was evaluated using anti-caspase-3; stronger positive staining was observed in the renal tubular cells in the study group than those of the control group. Although there was a significant difference between the study and control groups in terms of K+ level (p<0.05), no significant difference was observed in the other parameters studied (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that the electromagnetic waves propagated from mobile phones have harmful effects on the renal development of prenatal rats.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (prenatal exposure; renal development assessed in offspring)

Sample size

Exposure

RF mobile phone · 900 MHz · during the first 20 days of pregnancy

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed prenatally to a 900-MHz EMF had mild renal tissue changes (congestion, tubular defects, and dilatation of Bowman's capsule) and stronger caspase-3 staining in renal tubular cells versus controls. Serum K+ differed significantly between groups (p<0.05), while urea, creatinine, and other measured parameters did not differ significantly (p>0.05).

Outcomes measured

Kidney histopathology (congestion, tubular defects, Bowman's capsule dilatation)
Renal apoptosis (caspase-3 immunostaining)
Serum urea
Serum creatinine
Serum electrolytes (including K+)

Limitations

Small sample size (14 rats total)
Exposure characterization limited (no SAR reported; described as EMF produced by mobile phones)
Most serum parameters showed no significant differences despite reported histological/apoptosis changes

Suggested hubs

rf-mobile-phones (0.9)
Study examines 900-MHz EMF produced by mobile phones.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "during the first 20 days of pregnancy"
    },
    "population": "Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (prenatal exposure; renal development assessed in offspring)",
    "sample_size": 14,
    "outcomes": [
        "Kidney histopathology (congestion, tubular defects, Bowman's capsule dilatation)",
        "Renal apoptosis (caspase-3 immunostaining)",
        "Serum urea",
        "Serum creatinine",
        "Serum electrolytes (including K+)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats exposed prenatally to a 900-MHz EMF had mild renal tissue changes (congestion, tubular defects, and dilatation of Bowman's capsule) and stronger caspase-3 staining in renal tubular cells versus controls. Serum K+ differed significantly between groups (p<0.05), while urea, creatinine, and other measured parameters did not differ significantly (p>0.05).",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Small sample size (14 rats total)",
        "Exposure characterization limited (no SAR reported; described as EMF produced by mobile phones)",
        "Most serum parameters showed no significant differences despite reported histological/apoptosis changes"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "rat",
        "prenatal exposure",
        "900 MHz",
        "radiofrequency",
        "mobile phone",
        "kidney",
        "renal development",
        "histopathology",
        "apoptosis",
        "caspase-3",
        "electrolytes",
        "potassium"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "rf-mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study examines 900-MHz EMF produced by mobile phones."
        }
    ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Comments

No comments yet.