Adverse effects in lumbar spinal cord morphology and tissue biochemistry in Sprague Dawley male rats following exposure to a continuous 1-h a day 900-MHz electromagnetic field throughout adolescence.

Abstract

Cell phones, an indispensable element of daily life, are today used at almost addictive levels by adolescents. Adolescents are therefore becoming increasingly exposed to the effect of the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by cell phones. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exposure to a 900-MHz EMF throughout adolescence on the lumbar spinal cord using histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical techniques. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley (28.3-43.9g) aged 21days were included in the study. These were divided equally into three groups - control (CG), sham (SG) and electromagnetic (ELMAG). No procedure was performed on the CG rats until the end of the study. SG and ELMAG rats were kept inside an EMF cage (EMFC) for 1h a day every day at the same time between postnatal days 22 and 60. During this time, ELMAG rats were exposed to the effect of a 900-MHz EMF, while the SG rats were kept in the EMFC without being exposed to EMF. At the end of the study, the lumbar regions of the spinal cords of all rats in all groups were extracted. Half of each extracted tissue was stored at -80°C for biochemical analysis, while the other half was used for histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. In terms of histopathology, a lumbar spinal cord with normal morphology was observed in the other groups, while morphological irregularity in gray matter, increased vacuolization and infiltration of white matter into gray matter were pronounced in the ELMAG rats. The cytoplasm of some neurons in the gray matter was shrunken and stained dark, and vacuoles were observed in the cytoplasms. The apoptotic index of glia cells and neurons were significantly higher in ELMAG compared to the other groups. Biochemical analysis revealed a significantly increased MDA value in ELMAG compared to CG, while SOD and GSH levels decreased significantly. In conclusion, our study results suggest that continuous exposure to a 900-MHz EMF for 1h a day through all stages of adolescence can result in impairments at both morphological and biochemical levels in the lumbar region spinal cords of Sprague Dawley rats.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Compared with control and sham groups, the EMF-exposed group showed lumbar spinal cord morphological irregularity in gray matter, increased vacuolization, and infiltration of white matter into gray matter. The apoptotic index of glia cells and neurons was significantly higher in the exposed group, with increased MDA and decreased SOD and GSH levels.

Outcomes measured

• Lumbar spinal cord histopathology (morphology)
• Immunohistochemical measures including apoptotic index (glia cells and neurons)
• Biochemical oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, GSH)

Limitations

• No specific absorption rate (SAR) or dosimetry details reported in the abstract
• Only male rats studied
• Exposure scenario uses an EMF cage and may not directly represent typical human mobile phone exposure conditions
• Sample size per group not stated in the abstract (only total n=24)

Suggested hubs

• animal-studies (0.9)
  Rat experiment assessing spinal cord morphology and biochemistry after RF-EMF exposure.

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    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "1 h/day, daily, postnatal days 22–60 (adolescence)"
    },
    "population": "Sprague Dawley male rats (aged 21 days at start)",
    "sample_size": 24,
    "outcomes": [
        "Lumbar spinal cord histopathology (morphology)",
        "Immunohistochemical measures including apoptotic index (glia cells and neurons)",
        "Biochemical oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, GSH)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Compared with control and sham groups, the EMF-exposed group showed lumbar spinal cord morphological irregularity in gray matter, increased vacuolization, and infiltration of white matter into gray matter. The apoptotic index of glia cells and neurons was significantly higher in the exposed group, with increased MDA and decreased SOD and GSH levels.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "No specific absorption rate (SAR) or dosimetry details reported in the abstract",
        "Only male rats studied",
        "Exposure scenario uses an EMF cage and may not directly represent typical human mobile phone exposure conditions",
        "Sample size per group not stated in the abstract (only total n=24)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "900 MHz",
        "RF-EMF",
        "cell phone",
        "adolescence",
        "Sprague Dawley rat",
        "lumbar spinal cord",
        "histopathology",
        "immunohistochemistry",
        "apoptosis",
        "oxidative stress",
        "MDA",
        "SOD",
        "GSH"
    ],
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}

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