Purkinje cell number decreases in the adult female rat cerebellum following exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic field

Abstract

The biological effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from mobile phones have growing concern among scientists since there are some reports showing increased risk for human health, especially in the use of mobile phones for a long duration. In the presented study, the effects on the number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of 16-week (16 weeks) old female rats were investigated following exposure to 900 MHz EMF. Three groups of rats, a control group (CG), sham exposed group (SG) and an electromagnetic field exposed group (EMFG) were used in this study. While EMFG group rats were exposed to 900 MHz EMF (1h/day for 28 days) in an exposure tube, SG was placed in the exposure tube but not exposed to EMF (1h/day for 28 days). The specific energy absorption rate (SAR) varied between 0.016 (whole body) and 2 W/kg (locally in the head). The CG was not placed into the exposure tube nor was it exposed to EMF during the study period. At the end of the experiment, all of the female rats were sacrificed and the number of Purkinje cells was estimated using a stereological counting technique. Histopathological evaluations were also done on sections of the cerebellum. Results showed that the total number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of the EMFG was significantly lower than those of CG (p<0.004) and SG (p<0.002). In addition, there was no significant difference at the 0.05 level between the rats' body and brain weights in the EMFG and CG or SG. Therefore, it is suggested that long duration exposure to 900 MHz EMF leads to decreases of Purkinje cell numbers in the female rat cerebellum.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Adult female rats exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 1 h/day over 28 days had a significantly lower total number of cerebellar Purkinje cells than both control and sham-exposed groups. Body and brain weights did not differ significantly between exposed and control or sham groups.

Outcomes measured

• Purkinje cell number in the cerebellum
• histopathological evaluation of cerebellum
• body weight
• brain weight

Limitations

• Animal study
• Sample size not stated in the abstract
• Exposure source described generally as mobile-phone-related EMF rather than a specific device
• Histopathological evaluation results are not detailed in the abstract

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": 2,
        "duration": "1 h/day for 28 days"
    },
    "population": "16-week-old adult female rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Purkinje cell number in the cerebellum",
        "histopathological evaluation of cerebellum",
        "body weight",
        "brain weight"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Adult female rats exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 1 h/day over 28 days had a significantly lower total number of cerebellar Purkinje cells than both control and sham-exposed groups. Body and brain weights did not differ significantly between exposed and control or sham groups.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Animal study",
        "Sample size not stated in the abstract",
        "Exposure source described generally as mobile-phone-related EMF rather than a specific device",
        "Histopathological evaluation results are not detailed in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "900 MHz",
        "RF EMF",
        "mobile phone",
        "rat",
        "female",
        "cerebellum",
        "Purkinje cells",
        "stereology",
        "SAR",
        "histopathology"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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