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GFAP expression in the rat brain following sub-chronic exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field signal

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Ammari M, Gamez C, Lecomte A, Sakly M, Abdelmelek H, De Seze R · 2010

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Rats exposed to a 900 MHz EMF signal for two months showed increased GFAP levels in multiple brain areas, suggesting a potential gliosis.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This study measured glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in 48 rat brains to evaluate reactive astrocytosis after sub-chronic head-only exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field signal. Rats were exposed either for 45 minutes per day at a SAR of 1.5 W/kg or for 15 minutes per day at a SAR of 6 W/kg, five days per week over an eight-week period. Compared to sham-treated rats, exposed rats showed an increase in GFAP levels in different brain areas, measured three and ten days after treatment.

Why This Matters

GFAP expression was measured by immunocytochemistry in several brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, cerebellar cortex, dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, lateral globus pallidus of the striatum, and the caudate putamen. The researchers described the increase in GFAP as a sign of a potential gliosis, which they characterized as potentially adversely affecting the rat brain. The study included a sham-treated control group, allowing comparisons between exposed and unexposed rats.

Exposure Details

SAR
1.5 and 6 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz EMF signal
Exposure Duration
5 days/week for 8 weeks (45 min/day,SAR=1.5 W/kg or 15 min/day,SAR= 6 W/kg)

Exposure Context

This study used 1.5 and 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: 1.5 and 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 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

The rapid development and expansion of mobile communications contributes to the general debate on the effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones on the nervous system. This study aims at measuring the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in 48 rat brains to evaluate reactive astrocytosis, three and 10 days after long-term head-only sub-chronic exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) signal, in male rats.

Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed for 45 min/day at a brain-averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) =...

Compared to the sham-treated rats, those exposed to the sub-chronic GSM (Global System for mobile co...

Our results show that sub-chronic exposures to a 900 MHz EMF signal for two months could adversely affect rat brain (sign of a potential gliosis)

Cite This Study
Ammari M, Gamez C, Lecomte A, Sakly M, Abdelmelek H, De Seze R (2010). GFAP expression in the rat brain following sub-chronic exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field signal Int J Radiat Biol. 86(5):367-375, 2010.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2010_gfap_expression_in_the_63,
  author = {Ammari M and Gamez C and Lecomte A and Sakly M and Abdelmelek H and De Seze R},
  title = {GFAP expression in the rat brain following sub-chronic exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field signal},
  year = {2010},
  doi = {10.3109/09553000903567946},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09553000903567946},
}
DOI: 10.3109/09553000903567946

Cited By (51 papers)

View all 51 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used Sprague-Dawley male rats, with GFAP expression measured in 48 rat brains.
Rats were exposed at a SAR of 1.5 W/kg for 45 minutes per day, or at a SAR of 6 W/kg for 15 minutes per day, five days per week for eight weeks.
Researchers measured GFAP in the prefrontal cortex, cerebellar cortex, dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, lateral globus pallidus of the striatum, and the caudate putamen.
Exposed rats showed an increase in GFAP levels in different brain areas compared to sham-treated rats, observed three and ten days after treatment.
The researchers suggested the results indicated that sub-chronic exposures to a 900 MHz EMF signal for two months could adversely affect the rat brain, describing it as a sign of a potential gliosis.