Possible effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on contextual fear conditioning, hippocampal perivascular space, apoptosis and adrenal gland microarchitecture in rats
Narayanan SN, Kumar RS, Kumar N, Prabhakar P, Nayak SB, Bhat PG · 2025
Chronic RF-EMR exposure caused changes in contextual fear conditioning, enlargement of hippocampal perivascular space, apparent CA3 apoptosis, and apoptotic-like changes in the zona fasciculate of the adrenal gland in rats.
Plain English Summary
Male albino Wistar rats aged four weeks were exposed to 900 MHz radiation from a cellphone for four weeks at one hour per day. In the contextual fear conditioning test, the RF-EMR exposed group showed considerably elevated bright and dark compartment transitions and a significant decrease in latency to enter the dark compartment. Apoptosis was apparent in the CA3 region and perivascular space was significantly increased in the hippocampus of the radiation-exposed group. Lymphocytic infiltrates, congested sinusoids, and apoptotic-like changes were evident in the zona fasciculata, while the cytoarchitecture of the adrenal medulla was comparable in all three groups.
Why This Matters
On the 29th day, animals from the control, sham exposed, and RF-EMR exposed groups were tested for contextual fear conditioning. Chronic RF-EMR exposure caused changes in contextual fear conditioning, enlargement of hippocampal perivascular space, apparent CA3 apoptosis, and apoptotic-like changes in the zona fasciculate of the adrenal gland in rats.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{narayanan_sn_kumar_rs_kumar_n_prabhakar_p_nayak_sb_bhat_pg_ce3404,
author = {Narayanan SN and Kumar RS and Kumar N and Prabhakar P and Nayak SB and Bhat PG},
title = {Possible effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on contextual fear conditioning, hippocampal perivascular space, apoptosis and adrenal gland microarchitecture in rats},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115424},
}