ABSTRACT
The rapid rise in the use of mobile communications has raised the questions about the health issues. The head and the brain are usually the most exposed targets in mobile phone users. Over the last decade, exposure to high frequency electromagnetic radiation [EMR] has been found to induce deficits in rodents in spatial memory tasks. In addition, radiofrequency radiation has measurable effects on human cognitive performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of 900MHz EMR on some amino acid neurotransmitters [glutamic acid, glutamine, GABA, glycine and taurine] to measure their significant variations in the thalamus and striatum of adult and young rats
In the present study, both adult and young rats were exposed to EMR at a frequency of 900MHz, a power density of 0.02mW/Cm[2] and an average specific absorption rate of 1.165 W/Kg for one hour daily. Both the exposed and control rats were decapitated after 1h, 1,2 and 4 months of daily exposure to EMR and another group was decapitated after 1 months of stopping the exposure that extended daily for 4 months. Most of the excitatory and inhibitory amino acid meurotransmitters in the thalamus and straitum of the two ages showed significant increase after 1h of a single exposure. This increase persisted in the two areas of the adult animals only throughout the three time intervals [1, 2 and 4 months of daily exposure]. However, in the young rats this increase was normalized after 1 and 2 months and reappeared after 4 months. The most prominent effect recorded after stopping exposure was a significant increase in the striatal excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters of adult rats and a decrease in striatal GABA in young animals. The present reported data cannot exclude the possibility of the microwave-induced biological effects on the brain at a power level and frequency related to mobile communication. It may be concluded that the alteration in the amino acid neurotransmitters may provide one of the mechanisms underlying the memory and cognitive disorders induced by mobile phone radiation
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Amino Acids , Neurotransmitter Agents , RatsABSTRACT
Acetylcholine is an established neurotransmitter in the transmission of signals in many of brain neurons. A decrease in the activity of cholinergic systems has been implicated to underlie the memory disturbances resulting from electromagnetic radiation [EMR]. The present study shows clearly that EMR from mobile phone [at a frequency of 900MHz, a power density of 0.02mW/cm[2] and an average specific absorption rate of 1.165W/kg] had an adverse effect on acetylcholinesterase [AchE] activity, the enzyme specific for the functioning of acetylcholine. The exposure of young male rats to the previous EMR for one hour caused a significant increase in AchE activity in the hippocampus, but not in the striatum, whereas the prolonged exposure for one month and four months [1 h daily] induced a significant increase in the enzyme activity in both areas. Both acute [I h] and prolonged [1 and 4 months, 1h daily] exposure to EMR produced significant increases in AchE activity in both hippocampus and striatum of adult male rats. The increase in the enzyme activity continued also after stopping EMR exposure for one month. The implication of these changes to the brain functions of the cholinergic system in both areas is discussed