6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Brain & Nervous System

Effects of GSM 1800 MHz on dendritic development of cultured hippocampal neurons.

Bioeffects Seen

Ning W, Xu SJ, Chiang H, Xu ZP, Zhou SY, Yang W, Luo JH · 2007

View Original Abstract
Share:

Cultured rat hippocampal neurons exposed to GSM 1800 MHz microwaves at 2.4 W/kg showed significant decreases in dendritic filopodia density and mobility and in mature spine density, while 0.8 W/kg exposure produced no significant changes.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers cultured hippocampal neurons from rats and exposed them to GSM 1800 MHz microwaves at either 2.4 or 0.8 W/kg for 15 minutes each day from DIV6 to DIV14. At 2.4 W/kg, the density and mobility of dendritic filopodia at DIV8 and the density of mature spines at DIV14 were significantly decreased, and the average length of dendrites per neuron at DIV10 and DIV14 was also decreased. Dendritic arborization was unaltered in the exposed neurons, and no significant changes were found in neurons exposed to 0.8 W/kg.

Why This Matters

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of GSM 1800 MHz microwaves on dendritic filopodia, dendritic arborization, and spine maturation during development in cultured hippocampal neurons in rats. To visualize subtle structures of dendrites, neurons were transfected with farnesylated enhanced green fluorescent protein (F-GFP) and GFP-actin on DIV5. The researchers stated that chronic exposure to 2.4 W/kg GSM 1800 MHz microwaves during the early developmental stage may affect dendritic development and the formation of excitatory synapses of hippocampal neurons in culture.

Exposure Details

SAR
2.4 and 0.8 W/kg
Source/Device
GSM 1800 MHz
Exposure Duration
repeated daily exposure, 15 min/day, for 9 days

Exposure Context

This study used 2.4 and 0.8 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: 2.4 and 0.8 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 2 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To evaluate the effects of global system for mobile communications (GSM) 1800 MHz microwaves on dendritic filopodia, dendritic arborization, and spine maturation during development in cultured hippocampal neurons in rats.

The cultured hippocampal neurons were exposed to GSM 1800 MHz microwaves with 2.4 and 0.8 W/kg, resp...

There was a significant decrease in the density and mobility of dendritic filopodia at DIV8 and in t...

These data indicate that the chronic exposure to 2.4 W/kg GSM 1800 MHz microwaves during the early developmental stage may affect dendritic development and the formation of excitatory synapses of hippocampal neurons in culture.

Cite This Study
Ning W, Xu SJ, Chiang H, Xu ZP, Zhou SY, Yang W, Luo JH (2007). Effects of GSM 1800 MHz on dendritic development of cultured hippocampal neurons. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 28(12):1873-1880, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{w_2007_effects_of_gsm_1800_155,
  author = {Ning W and Xu SJ and Chiang H and Xu ZP and Zhou SY and Yang W and Luo JH},
  title = {Effects of GSM 1800 MHz on dendritic development of cultured hippocampal neurons.},
  year = {2007},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1745-7254.2007.00668.x},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1745-7254.2007.00668.x},
}
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2007.00668.x

Cited By (26 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Significant decreases were found in neurons exposed to GSM 1800 MHz microwaves at 2.4 W/kg, while no significant changes were found at 0.8 W/kg.
Cultured hippocampal neurons were exposed to GSM 1800 MHz microwaves for 15 minutes each day from DIV6 to DIV14.
Dendritic arborization was unaltered in the exposed neurons.
The researchers concluded that chronic exposure to 2.4 W/kg GSM 1800 MHz microwaves during the early developmental stage may affect dendritic development and the formation of excitatory synapses of hippocampal neurons in culture.
The study used cultured hippocampal neurons from rats.