Electromagnetic fields (1.8 GHz) increase the permeability to sucrose of the blood-brain barrier in vitro.

PAPER pubmed Bioelectromagnetics 2000 In vitro study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → PMID: 10899769 Evidence Lab

Abstract

We report an investigation on the influence of high frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the permeability of an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Our model was a co-culture consisting of rat astrocytes and porcine brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC). Samples were characterized morphologically by scanning electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. The BBB phenotype of the BCEC was shown by the presence of zona occludens protein (ZO-1) as a marker for tight junctions and the close contact of the cells together with the absence of intercellular clefts. Permeability measurements using (14)C-sucrose indicated a physiological tightness which correlated with the morphological findings and verified the usefulness of our in vitro model. Samples were exposed to EMF conforming to the GSM1800-standard used in mobile telephones (1.8 GHz). The permeability of the samples was monitored over four days and compared with results of samples that were cultured identically but not exposed to EMF. Exposure to EMF increased permeability for (14)C-sucrose significantly compared to unexposed samples. The underlying pathophysiological mechanism remains to be investigated.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

harm

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF mobile phone · 1800 MHz · monitored over four days

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a co-culture in vitro BBB model (rat astrocytes with porcine brain capillary endothelial cells), exposure to GSM1800-standard EMF (1.8 GHz) significantly increased permeability to (14)C-sucrose compared with identically cultured unexposed samples.

Outcomes measured

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to (14)C-sucrose
Tight junction marker ZO-1 (zona occludens protein) presence (characterization)
Morphological BBB phenotype (electron microscopy/immunocytochemistry characterization)

Limitations

In vitro BBB model; findings may not translate to in vivo conditions
Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure metric (e.g., SAR) not reported in abstract
Mechanism not investigated (stated as remaining to be investigated)

Suggested hubs

who-icnirp (0.2)
Study concerns RF exposure from GSM mobile-telephone standard, relevant to guideline discussions.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 1800,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "monitored over four days"
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to (14)C-sucrose",
        "Tight junction marker ZO-1 (zona occludens protein) presence (characterization)",
        "Morphological BBB phenotype (electron microscopy/immunocytochemistry characterization)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In a co-culture in vitro BBB model (rat astrocytes with porcine brain capillary endothelial cells), exposure to GSM1800-standard EMF (1.8 GHz) significantly increased permeability to (14)C-sucrose compared with identically cultured unexposed samples.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro BBB model; findings may not translate to in vivo conditions",
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Exposure metric (e.g., SAR) not reported in abstract",
        "Mechanism not investigated (stated as remaining to be investigated)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "blood-brain barrier",
        "BBB",
        "permeability",
        "sucrose",
        "GSM1800",
        "1.8 GHz",
        "radiofrequency",
        "mobile telephones",
        "astrocytes",
        "brain capillary endothelial cells",
        "tight junctions",
        "ZO-1",
        "in vitro"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Study concerns RF exposure from GSM mobile-telephone standard, relevant to guideline discussions."
        }
    ]
}

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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.

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