Effects of prenatal exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on the dentate gyrus of rats: a stereological and histopathological study.

PAPER pubmed Brain research 2008 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.08.013 PMID: 18761003 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) inhibit the formation and differentiation of neural stem cells during embryonic development. In this study, the effects of prenatal exposure to EMF on the number of granule cells in the dentate gyrus of 4-week-old rats were investigated. This experiment used a control (Cont) group and an EMF exposed (EMF) group (three pregnant rats each group). The EMF group consisted of six offspring (n=6) of pregnant rats that were exposed to an EMF of up to 900 megahertz (MHz) for 60 min/day between the first and last days of gestation. The control group consisted of five offspring (n=5) of pregnant rats that were not treated at all. The offspring were sacrificed when they were 4 weeks old. The numbers of granule cells in the dentate gyrus were analyzed using the optical fractionator technique. The results showed that prenatal EMF exposure caused a decrease in the number of granule cells in the dentate gyrus of the rats (P<0.01). This suggests that prenatal exposure to a 900 MHz EMF affects the development of the dentate gyrus granule cells in the rat hippocampus. Cell loss might be caused by an inhibition of granule cell neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Pregnant rats and their offspring assessed at 4 weeks of age

Sample size

Exposure

RF · 900 MHz · 60 min/day throughout gestation (between first and last days of gestation)

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Offspring prenatally exposed to a 900 MHz EMF (60 min/day during gestation) had a decreased number of granule cells in the dentate gyrus at 4 weeks of age compared with controls (P<0.01). The authors suggest this may reflect inhibited granule cell neurogenesis.

Outcomes measured

Number of granule cells in the dentate gyrus (hippocampus)
Histopathological changes/cell loss in dentate gyrus (implied)

Limitations

Very small sample size (n=6 exposed offspring; n=5 control offspring; three pregnant rats per group)
Exposure source and dosimetry (e.g., SAR) not reported in abstract
Only one postnatal time point assessed (4 weeks)

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "60 min/day throughout gestation (between first and last days of gestation)"
    },
    "population": "Pregnant rats and their offspring assessed at 4 weeks of age",
    "sample_size": 11,
    "outcomes": [
        "Number of granule cells in the dentate gyrus (hippocampus)",
        "Histopathological changes/cell loss in dentate gyrus (implied)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Offspring prenatally exposed to a 900 MHz EMF (60 min/day during gestation) had a decreased number of granule cells in the dentate gyrus at 4 weeks of age compared with controls (P<0.01). The authors suggest this may reflect inhibited granule cell neurogenesis.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Very small sample size (n=6 exposed offspring; n=5 control offspring; three pregnant rats per group)",
        "Exposure source and dosimetry (e.g., SAR) not reported in abstract",
        "Only one postnatal time point assessed (4 weeks)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "prenatal exposure",
        "900 MHz",
        "RF-EMF",
        "rat",
        "dentate gyrus",
        "hippocampus",
        "granule cells",
        "stereology",
        "optical fractionator",
        "neurodevelopment",
        "neurogenesis"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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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