Microwave Exposure Impairs Synaptic Plasticity in the Rat Hippocampus and PC12 Cells through Over-activation of the NMDA Receptor Signaling Pathway.
Xiong L, Sun CF, Zhang J, Gao YB, Wang LF, Zuo HY, Wang SM, Zhou HM, Xu XP, Dong J, Yao BW, Zhao L, Peng RY. · 2015
View Original AbstractMicrowave exposure at 30 mW/cm2 altered synaptic structure, amino acid neurotransmitter release, and calcium influx in rats and PC12 cells, with NMDA receptor signaling molecules closely associated with impaired synaptic plasticity.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed 48 male Wistar rats to 30 mW/cm2 microwave for 10 min every other day for three times, and separately exposed PC12 cells to 30 mW/cm2 microwave for 5 min. Microwave exposure caused injury in rat hippocampal structure and PC12 cells, especially the structure and quantity of synapses. The ratio of glutamic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid neurotransmitters was increased and the intracellular calcium level was elevated in PC12 cells. Significant changes in NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B and related signaling molecules were observed, and these were closely associated with impaired synaptic plasticity.
Why This Matters
The aim of the study was to investigate whether microwave exposure would affect the NMDA receptor signaling pathway and whether this plays a role in synaptic plasticity impairment. Hippocampal structure in rats was observed through H&E staining and transmission electron microscope, while synapse morphology in PC12 cells was visualized with scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope. The ratio of glutamic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid neurotransmitters was increased and the intracellular calcium level was elevated in PC12 cells. Significant changes were found in NMDAR subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B, as well as in related signaling molecules including Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II gamma and phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding protein.
Exposure Details
- Power Density
- 30 mW/cm²
- Exposure Duration
- 10 min
Exposure Context
This study used 30 mW/cm² for radio frequency:
- 3,000Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 50Mx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
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 Details
The aim of this study is to investigate whether microwave exposure would affect the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) signaling pathway to establish whether this plays a role in synaptic plasticity impairment.
48 male Wistar rats were exposed to 30 mW/cm2 microwave for 10 min every other day for three times. ...
Microwave exposure caused injury in rat hippocampal structure and PC12 cells, especially the structu...
30 mW/cm2 microwave exposure resulted in alterations of synaptic structure, amino acid neurotransmitter release and calcium influx. NMDAR signaling molecules were closely associated with impaired synaptic plasticity.
Show BibTeX
@article{l_2015_microwave_exposure_impairs_synaptic_204,
author = {Xiong L and Sun CF and Zhang J and Gao YB and Wang LF and Zuo HY and Wang SM and Zhou HM and Xu XP and Dong J and Yao BW and Zhao L and Peng RY.},
title = {Microwave Exposure Impairs Synaptic Plasticity in the Rat Hippocampus and PC12 Cells through Over-activation of the NMDA Receptor Signaling Pathway.},
year = {2015},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0895398815600022},
}