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Brain & Nervous System

Maternal mobile phone exposure alters intrinsic electrophysiological properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat offspring

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Razavinasab M, Moazzami K, Shabani M · 2014

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Offspring rats whose mothers were exposed to mobile phones during pregnancy showed reduced neuronal excitability and altered learning and memory performance.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed pregnant Wistar rats to 900 MHz pulsed-EMF irradiation for 6 hours per day during gestation, then tested the offspring using behavioral, histological, and electrophysiological methods. Mobile phone exposure was associated with a decrease in the number of action potentials fired and an increase in the amplitude of afterhyperpolarization in exposed offspring compared with controls. Phone exposure significantly altered learning acquisition and memory retention in both male and female offspring rats compared with control rats. Light microscopy of brain sections showed normal morphology in both control and mobile phone-exposed rats.

Why This Matters

The study used 8 rats per group and assessed offspring whose mothers were exposed to mobile phones throughout the gestational period. Electrophysiological recordings from hippocampal pyramidal cells showed decreased neuronal excitability in the mobile phone groups. The behavioral tests used were passive avoidance and the Morris water maze, which assessed learning acquisition and memory retention. Despite the functional changes observed, brain tissue examined under light microscopy appeared structurally normal in exposed rats.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.3 and 0.9 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
6 h/day during gestation

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.3 and 0.9 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 5 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

In this study, we have elucidated the alteration in the hippocampal function of offspring Wistar rats (n = 8 rats in each group) that were chronically exposed to mobile phones during their gestational period by applying behavioral, histological, and electrophysiological tests.

Rats in the EMF group were exposed to 900 MHz pulsed-EMF irradiation for 6 h/day. Whole cell recordi...

Mobile phone exposure was mostly associated with a decrease in the number of action potentials fired...

Our results suggest that exposure to mobile phones adversely affects the cognitive performance of both female and male offspring rats using behavioral and electrophysiological techniques.

Cite This Study
Razavinasab M, Moazzami K, Shabani M (2014). Maternal mobile phone exposure alters intrinsic electrophysiological properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat offspring Toxicol Ind Health 2014 Mar 6. DOI: 10.1177/0748233714525497.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2014_maternal_mobile_phone_exposure_173,
  author = {Razavinasab M and Moazzami K and Shabani M},
  title = {Maternal mobile phone exposure alters intrinsic electrophysiological properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat offspring},
  year = {2014},
  doi = {10.1177/0748233714525497},
  url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0748233714525497},
}
DOI: 10.1177/0748233714525497

Cited By (44 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The rats were exposed to 900 MHz pulsed-EMF irradiation for 6 hours per day.
Phone exposure significantly altered learning acquisition and memory retention in both male and female offspring rats compared with control rats.
Exposure was associated with a decrease in the number of action potentials fired in spontaneous activity and in response to current injection in both male and female groups.
Light microscopy of brain sections showed normal morphology in both control and mobile phone-exposed rats.
The researchers suggest that exposure to mobile phones adversely affects the cognitive performance of both female and male offspring rats.