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Neuroprotective effects of melatonin and omega-3 on hippocampal cells prenatally exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields

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Erdem Koç G, Kaplan S, Altun G, Gümüş H, Gülsüm Deniz Ö, Aydin I, Emin Onger M, Altunkaynak Z · 2016

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Prenatal exposure to 900 MHz EMF was associated with fewer pyramidal cells in the hippocampus, and both melatonin and omega-3 appeared to protect against this reduction.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers established seven groups of pregnant rats and exposed some to 900 MHz EMF for 60 minutes per day during the gestation period. After birth, male rat pups were selected and the total number of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal region was counted using the optical fractionator technique. The total number of pyramidal cells in the EMF group was significantly lower than in the control, sham, EMF plus melatonin, and EMF plus omega-3 groups. No difference was observed between any groups in terms of rats' body or brain weights.

Why This Matters

The study examined pyramidal cells in the cornu ammonis of offspring whose mothers were exposed to 900 MHz EMF during the gestation period. Each of the seven groups consisted of three pregnant rats, and each offspring group consisted of six animals. Rats assigned to the melatonin-only or omega-3-only groups were not placed inside the exposure tube or exposed to EMF. No significant difference was observed between the EMF group and the melatonin-alone or omega-3-alone groups in pyramidal cell counts. The researchers concluded that melatonin and omega-3 can protect hippocampal cells against neuronal damage induced by 900 MHz EMF, but called for further studies on the chronic effects of 900 MHz EMF on the brain during the prenatal period.

Exposure Details

SAR
2 W/kg
Power Density
1 mW/cm²
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
60 min/day from the 1st to the 21st day of gestation

Exposure Context

This study used 1 mW/cm² for radio frequency:

This study used 2 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: 1 mW/cm²Extreme Concern - 1,000 µW/m²FCC Limit - 10M µW/m²Effects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit
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

Study Details

Adverse effects on human health caused by electromagnetic fields (EMF) associated with the use of mobile phones, particularly among young people, are increasing all the time. The potential deleterious effects of EMF exposure resulting from mobile phones being used in close proximity to the brain require particular evaluation. However, only a limited number of studies have investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to EMF in the development of the pyramidal cells using melatonin (MEL) and omega-3 (ω-3).

We established seven groups of pregnant rats consisting of three animals each; control (CONT), SHAM,...

The total number of pyramidal cells in the cornu ammonis (CA) in the EMF group was significantly low...

MEL and ω-3 can protect the cell against neuronal damage in the hippocampus induced by 900 MHz EMF. However, further studies are now needed to evaluate the chronic effects of 900 MHz EMF on the brain in the prenatal period

Cite This Study
Erdem Koç G, Kaplan S, Altun G, Gümüş H, Gülsüm Deniz Ö, Aydin I, Emin Onger M, Altunkaynak Z (2016). Neuroprotective effects of melatonin and omega-3 on hippocampal cells prenatally exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields Int J Radiat Biol 2016; 92 (10): 590-595.
Show BibTeX
@article{g_2016_neuroprotective_effects_of_melatonin_97,
  author = {Erdem Koç G and Kaplan S and Altun G and Gümüş H and Gülsüm Deniz Ö and Aydin I and Emin Onger M and Altunkaynak Z},
  title = {Neuroprotective effects of melatonin and omega-3 on hippocampal cells prenatally exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields},
  year = {2016},
  doi = {10.1080/09553002.2016.1206223},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2016.1206223},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2016.1206223

Cited By (41 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Pregnant rats were exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 60 minutes per day inside an exposure tube during the gestation period.
Researchers counted the total number of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal cornu ammonis region using the optical fractionator technique.
The researchers concluded that melatonin and omega-3 can protect hippocampal cells against neuronal damage induced by 900 MHz EMF.
No difference was observed between any of the groups in terms of rats' body or brain weights.
The researchers stated that further studies are needed to evaluate the chronic effects of 900 MHz EMF on the brain in the prenatal period.