Effects of exposure to a 2450 MHz electromagnetic field on growth and development in rats

Bron: informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2013.871619
24 jan. 2014
in: Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine

The effects of long-term exposure to a 2450 MHz electromagnetic field on growth and pubertal development in female Wistar rats

Posted online on January 24, 2014.

Ozlem Sangun1,2, Bumin Dundar3, Hakan Darici4, Selcuk Comlekci5, Duygu Kumbul Doguc6, and Suheyla Celik6
1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey,
2Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Antakya State Hospital, Turkey,
3Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey,
4Department of Histology and Embriyology,
5Department of Electronics and Communication, and
6Department of Biochemistry, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
Address correspondence to Bumin Dundar, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey. E-mail: bumindundar@gmail.com

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 2450 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) (wireless internet frequency) on the growth and development of female Wistar rats. The study was conducted on three groups of rats. The prenatal and postnatal groups were exposed to EMF 1 h/day beginning from intrauterine and postnatal periods, respectively. The third group was the sham-exposed group. Growth, nutrition and vaginal opening (VO) were regularly monitored. Serum and tissue specimens were collected at puberty. Histological examinations, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) measurements in ovary and brain tissues and also immunohistochemical staining of the hypothalamus were performed besides the determination of serum FSH, LH, E2 and IGF-1 values. Birth masses of the groups were similar (p > 0.05). Mass gain per day was significantly lower and the puberty was significantly later in the prenatal group. Brain and ovary TOS and OSI values in the prenatal group were significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Serum LH levels of the prenatal and postnatal groups were increased, although serum FSH, and E2 values did not differ among the groups (p > 0.05). Histological examinations of the specimens revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05).
Exposure to 2450 MHz EMF, particularly in the prenatal period, resulted in postnatal growth restriction and delayed puberty in female Wistar rats. Increased TOS and OSI values in the brain and ovary tissues can be interpreted as a sign of chronic stress induced by EMF.
This is the first longitudinal study which investigates the effects of EMF induced by wireless internet on pubertal development beside growth.

Keywords

2450 MHz, growth, puberty, wireless



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