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Glial markers and emotional memory in rats following acute cerebral radiofrequency exposures

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(E) Barthélémy A, Mouchard A, Bouji M, Blazy K, Puigsegur R, Villégier AS · 2016

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In rats given a single radiofrequency exposure, long-term memory was reduced and glial markers rose in several brain regions, but no sign of neuronal damage was found.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed male Sprague Dawley rats for 15 minutes at 0, 1.5, or 6 W/kg, or for 45 minutes at 6 W/kg, to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Memory, emotionality, and locomotion were tested using fear conditioning, the elevated plus maze, and the open field. Long-term memory was reduced and cytosolic GFAP was increased in the hippocampus and in the olfactory bulb at 6 W/kg. No MBP or Aβ1–40 expression modification was shown. The study suggests that RF EMF-induced astrogliosis had functional consequences on memory but did not demonstrate that it was secondary to neuronal damage.

Why This Matters

The researchers used several behavioral tests, including fear conditioning to measure memory, the elevated plus maze to assess emotionality, and the open field to assess locomotion. GFAP (total and cytosolic fractions), MBP, and Aβ1–40 were quantified in six brain areas using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. At 1.5 W/kg, total GFAP was increased in the striatum by 114%. At 6 W/kg with a 15-minute exposure, cytosolic GFAP rose by 119% in the hippocampus and by 46% in the olfactory bulb. The study corroborates previous findings of RF EMF-induced astrogliosis but notes the results did not show this was caused by neuronal injury.

Exposure Details

SAR
0, 1.5, or 6 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz RF EMF(217 Hz pulse Modulated)
Exposure Duration
15 min or 45 min

Exposure Context

This study used 0, 1.5, or 6 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0, 1.5, or 6 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 1 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 217 Hz - 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 217 Hz - 900 MHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The widespread mobile phone use raises concerns on the possible cerebral effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF). Reactive astrogliosis was reported in neuroanatomical structures of adaptive behaviors after a single RF EMF exposure at high specific absorption rate (SAR, 6 W/kg). Here, we aimed to assess if neuronal injury and functional impairments were related to high SAR-induced astrogliosis. In addition, the level of beta amyloid 1–40 (Aβ 1–40) peptide was explored as a possible toxicity marker.

Sprague Dawley male rats were exposed for 15 min at 0, 1.5, or 6 W/kg or for 45 min at 6 W/kg. Memor...

According to our data, total GFAP was increased in the striatum (+114 %) at 1.5 W/kg. Long-term memo...

This study suggests that RF EMF-induced astrogliosis had functional consequences on memory but did not demonstrate that it was secondary to neuronal damage.

Cite This Study
(E) Barthélémy A, Mouchard A, Bouji M, Blazy K, Puigsegur R, Villégier AS (2016). Glial markers and emotional memory in rats following acute cerebral radiofrequency exposures Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016; 23 (24): 25343-25355.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2016_glial_markers_and_emotional_67,
  author = {(E) Barthélémy A and Mouchard A and Bouji M and Blazy K and Puigsegur R and Villégier AS},
  title = {Glial markers and emotional memory in rats following acute cerebral radiofrequency exposures},
  year = {2016},
  doi = {10.1007/s11356-016-7758-y},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-016-7758-y},
}
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7758-y

Cited By (29 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed for 15 minutes at 0, 1.5, or 6 W/kg, or for 45 minutes at 6 W/kg.
Long-term memory was reduced at 6 W/kg with a 15-minute exposure.
Total GFAP increased in the striatum by 114% at 1.5 W/kg, and cytosolic GFAP increased in the hippocampus by 119% and in the olfactory bulb by 46% at 6 W/kg.
The study did not demonstrate that the astrogliosis was secondary to neuronal damage.
The study suggests that RF EMF-induced astrogliosis had functional consequences on memory.