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Brain & Nervous System

Acute exposure to low-level CW and GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiofrequency does not affect Ba(2+) currents through voltage-gated calcium channels in rat cortical neurons.

No Effects Found

Platano D, Mesirca P, Paffi A, Pellegrino M, Liberti M, Apollonio F, Bersani F, Aicardi G. · 2007

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Brief 900 MHz exposure at cell phone levels didn't affect calcium channels in rat brain cells, but this doesn't address long-term exposure effects.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Italian researchers exposed rat brain cells to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (the same frequency used by GSM cell phones) for short periods to see if it affected calcium channels, which are crucial for nerve cell communication. They found no changes in how calcium moved through these channels, even at radiation levels of 2 W/kg. This suggests that brief cell phone-level exposures may not immediately disrupt this particular aspect of brain cell function.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: 1, 2, or 3 times 90 s

Study Details

We have studied the non-thermal effects of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on Ba2+ currents (equation image) through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC), recorded in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons using the patch-clamp technique.

To assess whether low-level acute RF field exposure could modify the amplitude and/or the voltage-de...

The results obtained indicate that single or multiple acute exposures to either CW or GSM-modulated ...

Cite This Study
Platano D, Mesirca P, Paffi A, Pellegrino M, Liberti M, Apollonio F, Bersani F, Aicardi G. (2007). Acute exposure to low-level CW and GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiofrequency does not affect Ba(2+) currents through voltage-gated calcium channels in rat cortical neurons. Bioelectromagnetics.28(8):599-607, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{d_2007_acute_exposure_to_lowlevel_3307,
  author = {Platano D and Mesirca P and Paffi A and Pellegrino M and Liberti M and Apollonio F and Bersani F and Aicardi G.},
  title = {Acute exposure to low-level CW and GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiofrequency does not affect Ba(2+) currents through voltage-gated calcium channels in rat cortical neurons.},
  year = {2007},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20345},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20345},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20345

Cited By (38 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Italian researchers found that 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation at 2 W/kg does not affect voltage-gated calcium channels in rat brain cells. These channels are crucial for nerve communication, and the study showed no changes in calcium movement even after multiple exposures to GSM-level radiation.
A 2007 study found that acute exposure to GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiation does not disrupt rat cortical neurons. Researchers tested both continuous wave and GSM-modulated signals and observed no significant changes in calcium channel function or current-voltage relationships in brain cells.
Research on rat cortical neurons shows that 2 W/kg radiofrequency exposure at 900 MHz does not alter calcium currents through voltage-gated channels. The study tested both single and multiple acute exposures, finding no significant effects on calcium channel amplitude or electrical properties.
Italian scientists found that Ba2+ currents through voltage-gated calcium channels remain unchanged when rat brain cells are exposed to 900 MHz cell phone frequencies. The study used barium as a tracer and detected no alterations in current flow during acute radiofrequency exposure.
Research comparing continuous wave and GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiation found no differences in their effects on rat cortical neurons. Both signal types failed to significantly alter calcium channel function, suggesting that modulation pattern doesn't influence acute neuronal responses to radiofrequency exposure.