Altered morphology and biochemistry of the female rat liver following 900 megahertz electromagnetic field exposure during mid to late adolescence.

Abstract

Despite their benefits, technological devices such as cell phones may also have deleterious effects on human health. Considerable debate continues concerning the effects of the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted during cell phone use on human health. We investigated the effects of exposure to 900 megahertz (MHz) EMF during mid to late adolescence on the rat liver. Control (ContGr), sham (ShmGr) and EMF (EMFGr) groups of female rats were established. We exposed the EMFGr rats daily to 900 MHz EMF on postnatal days 35-59. ShmGr rats underwent sham procedures. No procedure was performed on ContGr rats. Rats were sacrificed on postnatal day 60 and the livers were extracted. One part of the liver was stained with Masson's trichrome or hematoxylin and eosin. The remaining tissue was used to measure oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and nitrotyrosine. Total antioxidant status and total oxidant status were used to calculate the oxidative stress index. We found normal hepatic morphology in the ContGr and ShmGr groups. The EMFGr group exhibited occasional irregularities in the radial arrangement of hepatocytes, cytoplasmic vacuolization, hemorrhage, sinusoid expansion, hepatocyte morphology and edema. Biochemical analysis revealed that 8-OHdG and SOD levels in EMFGr decreased significantly compared to the ContGr and ShmGr groups. Exposure to a continuous 900 MHz EMF for 1 h daily during mid to late adolescence may cause histopathological and biochemical alterations in hepatic tissue.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Control and sham groups showed normal hepatic morphology. The EMF-exposed group showed occasional histopathological changes (e.g., irregular hepatocyte arrangement, vacuolization, hemorrhage, sinusoid expansion, edema) and had significantly decreased 8-OHdG and SOD levels versus control and sham.

Outcomes measured

• Liver histopathology (H&E; Masson's trichrome)
• Oxidative stress markers: malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), nitrotyrosine
• Total antioxidant status (TAS)
• Total oxidant status (TOS)
• Oxidative stress index (OSI)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in abstract
• Specific exposure characterization beyond frequency and duration (e.g., SAR, field strength, modulation) not reported in abstract
• Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract

Suggested hubs

• rf-emf-animal-studies (0.85)
  Experimental RF exposure (900 MHz) in rats assessing tissue and oxidative stress outcomes.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "1 h daily on postnatal days 35–59 (rats); sacrificed on postnatal day 60"
    },
    "population": "Female rats exposed during mid to late adolescence (postnatal days 35–59)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Liver histopathology (H&E; Masson's trichrome)",
        "Oxidative stress markers: malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), nitrotyrosine",
        "Total antioxidant status (TAS)",
        "Total oxidant status (TOS)",
        "Oxidative stress index (OSI)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Control and sham groups showed normal hepatic morphology. The EMF-exposed group showed occasional histopathological changes (e.g., irregular hepatocyte arrangement, vacuolization, hemorrhage, sinusoid expansion, edema) and had significantly decreased 8-OHdG and SOD levels versus control and sham.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Specific exposure characterization beyond frequency and duration (e.g., SAR, field strength, modulation) not reported in abstract",
        "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "900 MHz",
        "RF-EMF",
        "mobile phone",
        "adolescence",
        "female rat",
        "liver",
        "histopathology",
        "oxidative stress",
        "8-OHdG",
        "superoxide dismutase"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "rf-emf-animal-studies",
            "weight": 0.84999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Experimental RF exposure (900 MHz) in rats assessing tissue and oxidative stress outcomes."
        }
    ]
}

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