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The relationship between NMDA receptors and microwave-induced learning and memory impairment: A long-term observation on Wistar rats.

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Wang H, Peng R, Zhao L, Wang S, Gao Y, Wang L, Zuo H, Dong J, Xu X, Zhou H, Su Z · 2014

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Wistar rats exposed to pulsed microwave radiation showed consistent deficiencies in spatial learning and memory.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Eighty Wistar rats were exposed to a 2.856 GHz pulsed microwave source at power densities of 0 mW/cm2 and 50 mW/cm2 for 6 minutes, and then observed at multiple time points up to 18 months after exposure. The microwave-exposed rats showed consistent deficiencies in spatial learning and memory. The level of amino acid neurotransmitters decreased after microwave radiation, and the ratio of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid significantly decreased at 6 months. The hippocampus showed varying degrees of degeneration of neurons, and NR1 and NR2B expression showed a significant decrease, especially NR2B expression.

Why This Matters

Researchers measured spatial memory ability, hippocampal structure, amino acid neurotransmitter levels, and the expression of NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B at six time points after microwave exposure. In the exposure group, the hippocampus showed increased postsynaptic density and blurred synaptic clefts in addition to neuronal degeneration. The researchers suggested that changes in amino acid neurotransmitter levels, NMDA receptor subunit expression, and hippocampal structure might contribute to long-term cognitive impairment after microwave exposure.

Exposure Details

Power Density
0, 50 mW/cm²
Source/Device
2.856 GHz
Exposure Duration
6 min

Exposure Context

This study used 0, 50 mW/cm² for radio frequency:

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, 50 mW/cm²Extreme Concern - 1,000 µW/m²FCC Limit - 10M µW/m²Effects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 50 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.86 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.86 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To investigate whether high power microwave could cause continuous disorders to learning and memory in Wistar rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Eighty Wistar rats were exposed to a 2.856 GHz pulsed microwave source at a power density of 0 mW/cm...

Our results showed that the microwave-exposed rats showed consistent deficiencies in spatial learnin...

This study indicated that the content of amino acids neurotransmitters, the expression of NMDAR subunits and the variation of hippocampal structure might contribute to the long-term cognitive impairment after microwave exposure.

Cite This Study
Wang H, Peng R, Zhao L, Wang S, Gao Y, Wang L, Zuo H, Dong J, Xu X, Zhou H, Su Z (2014). The relationship between NMDA receptors and microwave-induced learning and memory impairment: A long-term observation on Wistar rats. Int J Radiat Biol. 2014 Nov 26:1-25.
Show BibTeX
@article{h_2014_the_relationship_between_nmda_198,
  author = {Wang H and Peng R and Zhao L and Wang S and Gao Y and Wang L and Zuo H and Dong J and Xu X and Zhou H and Su Z},
  title = {The relationship between NMDA receptors and microwave-induced learning and memory impairment: A long-term observation on Wistar rats.},
  year = {2014},
  doi = {10.3109/09553002.2014.988893},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09553002.2014.988893},
}
DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2014.988893

Cited By (37 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Rats were exposed to a 2.856 GHz pulsed microwave source at power densities of 0 mW/cm2 and 50 mW/cm2 for 6 minutes.
Measurements were taken at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months after microwave exposure.
The microwave-exposed rats showed consistent deficiencies in spatial learning and memory.
The hippocampus showed varying degrees of degeneration of neurons, increased postsynaptic density, and blurred synaptic clefts in the exposure group.
Researchers suggested that amino acid neurotransmitter levels, NMDA receptor subunit expression, and hippocampal structure changes might contribute to long-term cognitive impairment after microwave exposure.