Immunohistochemical study of postnatal neurogenesis after whole-body exposure to electromagnetic fields: evaluation of age- and dose-related changes in rats.

Abstract

It is well established that strong electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can give rise to acute health effects, such as burns, which can be effectively prevented by respecting exposure guidelines and regulations. Current concerns are instead directed toward the possibility that long-term exposure to weak EMF might have detrimental health effects due to some biological mechanism, to date unknown. (1) The possible risk due to pulsed EMF at frequency 2.45 GHz and mean power density 2.8 mW/cm(2) on rat postnatal neurogenesis was studied in relation to the animal's age, duration of the exposure dose, and post-irradiation survival. (2) Proliferating cells marker, BrdU, was used to map age- and dose-related immunohistochemical changes within the rostral migratory stream (RMS) after whole-body exposure of newborn (P7) and senescent (24 months) rats. (3) Two dose-related exposure patterns were performed to clarify the cumulative effect of EMF: short-term exposure dose, 2 days irradiation (4 h/day), versus long-term exposure dose, 3 days irradiation (8 h/day), both followed by acute (24 h) and chronic (1-4 weeks) post-irradiation survival. (4) We found that the EMF induces significant age- and dose-dependent changes in proliferating cell numbers within the RMS. Our results indicate that the concerns about the possible risk of EMF generated in connection with production, transmission, distribution, and the use of electrical equipment and communication sets are justified at least with regard to early postnatal neurogenesis.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Whole-body pulsed EMF exposure at 2.45 GHz (mean power density 2.8 mW/cm^2) induced significant age- and dose-dependent changes in proliferating cell numbers within the rostral migratory stream. The authors conclude that concerns about possible EMF risk are justified at least with regard to early postnatal neurogenesis.

Outcomes measured

• Postnatal neurogenesis / proliferating cell numbers in rostral migratory stream (RMS)
• BrdU immunohistochemical marker of proliferating cells

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in abstract
• Direction of change in proliferating cell numbers (increase vs decrease) not specified in abstract
• Exposure metric reported as mean power density; SAR not provided
• Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract

Suggested hubs

• rf-neurodevelopment (0.78)
  Animal study assessing early postnatal neurogenesis after RF/microwave exposure (2.45 GHz).
• rf-brain-effects (0.62)
  Measures proliferating cells in a brain migratory pathway (RMS) after RF exposure.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 2450,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Short-term: 2 days (4 h/day) vs long-term: 3 days (8 h/day); outcomes assessed after 24 h and 1–4 weeks post-irradiation survival"
    },
    "population": "Rats (newborn P7 and senescent 24 months)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Postnatal neurogenesis / proliferating cell numbers in rostral migratory stream (RMS)",
        "BrdU immunohistochemical marker of proliferating cells"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Whole-body pulsed EMF exposure at 2.45 GHz (mean power density 2.8 mW/cm^2) induced significant age- and dose-dependent changes in proliferating cell numbers within the rostral migratory stream. The authors conclude that concerns about possible EMF risk are justified at least with regard to early postnatal neurogenesis.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Direction of change in proliferating cell numbers (increase vs decrease) not specified in abstract",
        "Exposure metric reported as mean power density; SAR not provided",
        "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "pulsed EMF",
        "2.45 GHz",
        "microwave",
        "whole-body exposure",
        "rat",
        "postnatal neurogenesis",
        "rostral migratory stream",
        "BrdU",
        "age-dependent",
        "dose-dependent"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "rf-neurodevelopment",
            "weight": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
            "reason": "Animal study assessing early postnatal neurogenesis after RF/microwave exposure (2.45 GHz)."
        },
        {
            "slug": "rf-brain-effects",
            "weight": 0.61999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Measures proliferating cells in a brain migratory pathway (RMS) after RF exposure."
        }
    ]
}

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