Acute radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation exposures cause neuronal DNA damage and impair neurogenesis in the young adolescent rat brain

Abstract

Mobile phone is now a commonly used communication device in all age groups. Young adolescents use it for longer duration and effect of its radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) on their brain structure and function need detailed investigation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of RF-EMR emitted from mobile phones, on young adolescent rat brain. Wistar rats (5 weeks, male) were exposed to RF-EMR signal (2,115 MHz) from a mobile phone at a whole body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1.15 W/kg continuously for 8 h. Higher level of lipid peroxidation, carbon centered lipid radicals and DNA damage were observed in the brain of rat exposed to RF-EMR. Number of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in dentate gyrus (DG) were found to be relatively low in RF-EMR exposed rats that may be due to reduced neurogenesis. Acute exposure to RF-EMR induced neuronal degeneration in DG region with insignificant variation in CA3, CA1 and cerebral cortex sub regions of hippocampus. Findings of this study, indicate that acute exposure of high frequency RF-EMR at relatively higher SAR may adversely impact the neurogenesis and function of adolescent rat brain. Generation of carbon centered lipid radicals, and nuclear DNA damage might be playing critical role in reduced neurogenesis and higher neuronal degeneration in the cortex and hippocampus of brain. Detailed understanding of RF-EMR induced alteration in brain function will be useful to develop appropriate interventions for reducing the impact caused by RF-EMR damage.