Effect of Low-Intensity Microwave Radiation on Monoamine Neurotransmitters and Their Key Regulating Enzymes in Rat Brain.

PAPER pubmed Cell biochemistry and biophysics 2015 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1007/s12013-015-0576-x PMID: 25672490 Evidence Lab

Abstract

The increasing use of wireless communication devices has raised major concerns towards deleterious effects of microwave radiation on human health. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the effect of low-intensity microwave radiation on levels of monoamine neurotransmitters and gene expression of their key regulating enzymes in brain of Fischer rats. Animals were exposed to 900 MHz and 1800 MHz microwave radiation for 30 days (2 h/day, 5 days/week) with respective specific absorption rates as 5.953 × 10(-4) and 5.835 × 10(-4) W/kg. The levels of monoamine neurotransmitters viz. dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and serotonin (5-HT) were detected using LC-MS/MS in hippocampus of all experimental animals. In addition, mRNA expression of key regulating enzymes for these neurotransmitters viz. tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (for DA, NE and E) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH1 and TPH2) (for serotonin) was also estimated. Results showed significant reduction in levels of DA, NE, E and 5-HT in hippocampus of microwave-exposed animals in comparison with sham-exposed (control) animals. In addition, significant downregulation in mRNA expression of TH, TPH1 and TPH2 was also observed in microwave-exposed animals (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results indicate that low-intensity microwave radiation may cause learning and memory disturbances by altering levels of brain monoamine neurotransmitters at mRNA and protein levels.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Fischer rats

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF wireless communication devices · 30 days (2 h/day, 5 days/week)

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Fischer rats exposed to 900 MHz or 1800 MHz microwave radiation for 30 days showed significantly reduced hippocampal levels of DA, NE, E, and 5-HT compared with sham-exposed controls. mRNA expression of TH, TPH1, and TPH2 was also significantly downregulated in exposed animals (p < 0.05).

Outcomes measured

Hippocampal dopamine (DA) level
Hippocampal norepinephrine (NE) level
Hippocampal epinephrine (E) level
Hippocampal serotonin (5-HT) level
Hippocampal mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)
Hippocampal mRNA expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH1)
Hippocampal mRNA expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the provided abstract.
Only hippocampus outcomes are described in the abstract.
Functional/behavioral learning and memory outcomes are not reported in the abstract (only suggested in the conclusion).

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "wireless communication devices",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "30 days (2 h/day, 5 days/week)"
    },
    "population": "Fischer rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Hippocampal dopamine (DA) level",
        "Hippocampal norepinephrine (NE) level",
        "Hippocampal epinephrine (E) level",
        "Hippocampal serotonin (5-HT) level",
        "Hippocampal mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)",
        "Hippocampal mRNA expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH1)",
        "Hippocampal mRNA expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Fischer rats exposed to 900 MHz or 1800 MHz microwave radiation for 30 days showed significantly reduced hippocampal levels of DA, NE, E, and 5-HT compared with sham-exposed controls. mRNA expression of TH, TPH1, and TPH2 was also significantly downregulated in exposed animals (p < 0.05).",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract.",
        "Only hippocampus outcomes are described in the abstract.",
        "Functional/behavioral learning and memory outcomes are not reported in the abstract (only suggested in the conclusion)."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave radiation",
        "RF",
        "900 MHz",
        "1800 MHz",
        "low-intensity",
        "specific absorption rate",
        "Fischer rats",
        "hippocampus",
        "monoamine neurotransmitters",
        "dopamine",
        "norepinephrine",
        "epinephrine",
        "serotonin",
        "tyrosine hydroxylase",
        "tryptophan hydroxylase",
        "mRNA expression"
    ],
    "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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