Behavioral tests of mood-cognitive impairment of mice exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation / 中国比较医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effects of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation exposure on the mood-cognitive behaviors of mice, and to provide an experimental basis for the study on radiation damage mechanism and protection. Methods The electromagnetic reverberation chamber can produce continuous and uniform high-frequency electromagnetic waves. Different groups of ICR mice were exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation in this chamber for 1 d, 3 d and 7 d, and then series of behavioral tests were conducted to observe the changes in locomotor activities,depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors, and cognitive function of the mice. Results After exposed to the high-frequency electromagnetic radiation(3 GHz,SAR 4 W/kg)4 h/d for 7 d,there was no obvious change in locomotor activity(times of grid crossing and standing up in the open field test)of the mice,while the times of entering the central region(P< 0.05)and the time duration(P< 0.05)were significantly decreased. Compared with the unexposed group, the percentage of the times of entering the open arm in the elevated-plus maze(P< 0.05)and the time duration in the open arm(P< 0.01)of the mice in the radiation group were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the immobility time in the forced-swimming test(P< 0.01)and the tail suspension test(P < 0.05)of the mice exposed to electromagnetic radiation was significantly increased, and the discrimination index of new objects in the new object recognition test was significantly reduced(P < 0.001). Conclusions Continual exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation(3 GHz,SAR 4 W/kg)can lead to anxious-depression behaviors and cognitive impairment of mice in a time-dependent manner,which provides an experimental basis for the relevant study of prevention and therapy techniques.