Vol. 82

Latest Volume
All Volumes
All Issues
2008-04-04

The Effect of Microwave Emmision from Mobile Phones on Neuron Survival in Rat Central Nervous System

By Yongjian Zhu, Feng Gao, Xiaofeng Yang, Hong Shen, Weiguo Liu, Hongsheng Chen, and Xiuyi Jiang
Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 82, 287-298, 2008
doi:10.2528/PIER08022813

Abstract

To investigate the effect of microwave emitted by mobile phones on the rat central nervous system (CNS), in vitro cultured cortical neuronal cells and in vivo rat's brain were exposed to the electromagnetic waves emitted by a microwave transmitter that mimics the working frequency of mobile phones. Trypan blue staining and terminal deoxynucleotidy transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) were used to determine the survival state of neuronal cells while immunohistochemistry method was used to determine the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax. Our results show that microwave lead to significant cell death in culture and more in vivo brain neuronal cells were stained positive for TUNEL, Bax and Bcl-2 in rats with cranial defect after exposure than that for control groups (with intact cranium, or had no microwave exposure) (P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were observed in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 among the groups studied. Therefore, microwave emitted from mobile phones is harmful to both in vitro cultured cortical cells and in vivo brain neuronal cells from rat with cranial defect. The integrity of cranium is important in protecting the CNS against apoptotic injuries inflicted by the microwaves from mobile phones.

Citation


Yongjian Zhu, Feng Gao, Xiaofeng Yang, Hong Shen, Weiguo Liu, Hongsheng Chen, and Xiuyi Jiang, "The Effect of Microwave Emmision from Mobile Phones on Neuron Survival in Rat Central Nervous System," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 82, 287-298, 2008.
doi:10.2528/PIER08022813
http://test.jpier.org/PIER/pier.php?paper=08022813

References


    1. Barnett, J., L. Timotijevic, R. Shepherd, and V. Senior, "Public responses to precautionary information from the Department of Health (UK) about possible health risks from mobile phones," Health Policy, Vol. 82, No. 2, 240-250, 2007.
    doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2006.10.002

    2. Karger, C. P., "Mobile phones and health: A literature overview," Z. Med. Phys., Vol. 15, No. 2, 73-85, 2005.

    3. Wu, B. I., F. C. A. I. Cox, and J. A. Kong, "Experimental methodology for non-thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation on biologics," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 21, No. 4, 533-548, 2007.
    doi:10.1163/156939307780616829

    4. Stilgoe, J., "The (co-) production of public uncertainty: UK scientific advice on mobile phone health risks," Public Underst. Sci., Vol. 16, No. 1, 45-61, 2007.
    doi:10.1177/0963662506059262

    5. Elder, A. J., C.-K. Chou, and J. J. Morrissey, "Radiofrequency exposure and human health," PIERS Online, Vol. 3, No. 2, 149-153, 2007.
    doi:10.2529/PIERS060906133215

    6. Sakari, L., "Recent advances in bioelectromagnetics research on mobile telephony and health --- An introduction," PIERS Online, Vol. 2, No. 2, 192-196, 2006.
    doi:10.2529/PIERS050901151144

    7. Kouveliotis, N. K., S. C. Panagiotou, P. K. Varlamos, and C. Capsalis, "Theoretical approach of the interaction between a human head model and a mobile handset helical antenna using numerical methods," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 65, 309-327, 2006.
    doi:10.2528/PIER06101901

    8. Ismail, N. H. and A. T. Ibrahim, "Temperature distribution in the human brain during ultrasound hyperthermia," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 16, No. 6, 803-811, 2002.
    doi:10.1163/156939302X00165

    9. Lang, S., "Recent advances in bioelectromagnetics research on mobile telephony and health --- An introduction," PIERS Online, Vol. 2, No. 2, 192-196, 2006.
    doi:10.2529/PIERS050901151144

    10. Kuo, L. C., Y. C. Kan, and H. R. Chuang, "Analysis of a 900/1800-MHzdual-band gap loop antenna on a handset with proximate head and hand model," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 21, No. 1, 107-122, 2007.
    doi:10.1163/156939307779391722

    11. Klemm, M. and G. Troester, "EM energy absorption in the human body tissues due to UWB antennas," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 62, 261-280, 2006.
    doi:10.2528/PIER06040601

    12. Kang, X. K., L. W. Li, M. S. Leong, and P. S. Kooi, "A method of moments study of SAR inside spheroidal human head and current distribution along handset wire antennas," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 15, No. 1, 61-75, 2001.
    doi:10.1163/156939301X00643

    13. Khalatbari, S., D. Sardari, A. A. Mirzaee, and H. A. Sadafi, "Calculating SAR in two models of the human head exposed to mobile phones radiations at 900 and 1800 MHz," PIERS Online, Vol. 2, No. 1, 104-109, 2006.
    doi:10.2529/PIERS050905190653

    14. Ferreri, F., G. Curcio, P. Pasqualetti, L. de Gennaro, R. Fini, and P. M. Rossini, "Mobile phone emissions and human brain excitability," Ann. Neurol., Vol. 60, No. 2, 188-196, 2006.
    doi:10.1002/ana.20906

    15. Hamblin, D. L. and A. W. Wood, "Effects of mobile phone emissions on human brain activity and sleep variables," Int. J. Radiat. Biol., Vol. 78, No. 8, 659-669, 2002.
    doi:10.1080/09553000210132298

    16. Khiat, A., Y. Boulanger, and G. Breton, "Monitoring the effects of mobile phone use on the brain by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy," Int. J. Radiat. Biol., Vol. 82, No. 9, 681-685, 2006.
    doi:10.1080/09553000600890026

    17. Lonappan, A., V. Thomas, G. Bindu, C. Rajasekaran, and K. T. Mathew, "Analysis of human cerebro spinal fluid at the ISM band of frequencies," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 20, No. 6, 773-779, 2006.
    doi:10.1163/156939306776143424

    18. Krause, C. M., M. Pesonen, C. Haarala-Bjornberg, and H. Hamalainen, "Effects of pulsed and continuous wave 902MHz mobile phone exposure on brain oscillatory activity during cognitive processing," Bioelectromagnetics, Vol. 28, No. 4, 296-308, 2007.
    doi:10.1002/bem.20300

    19. Kumlin, T., H. Iivonen, P. Miettinen, A. Juvonen, T. van Groen, L. Puranen, R. Pitkaaho, J. Juutilainen, and H. Tanila, "Mobile phone radiation and the developing brain: Behavioral and morphological effects in juvenile rats," Radiat Res., Vol. 168, No. 4, 471-479, 2007.
    doi:10.1667/RR1002.1

    20. Lonn, S., A. Ahlbom, P. Hall, and M. Feychting, "Long-term mobile phone use and brain tumor risk," Am. J. Epidemiol., Vol. 161, No. 6, 526-535, 2005.
    doi:10.1093/aje/kwi091

    21. Sievert, U., S. Eggert, and H. W. Pau, "Can mobile phone emissions affect auditory functions of cochlea or brain stem?," Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg., Vol. 132, No. 3, 451-455, 2005.
    doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2004.09.064

    22. Ebrahimi-Ganjeh, M. A. and A. R. Attari, "Interaction of dual band helical and PIFA handset antennas with human head and hand," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 77, 225-242, 2007.
    doi:10.2528/PIER07081804

    23. Johnston, A. S., "Behavioral and cognitive effects of MW electromagnetic field exposures," PIERS Online, Vol. 3, No. 5, 751-758, 2007.
    doi:10.2529/PIERS060907150019

    24. Persson, R. R. B., J. Eberhardt, L. Malmgren, B. M. Persson, A. Brun, and G. L. Salford, "Effects of microwaves from GSM mobile phones on the blood-brain barrier and neurons in rat brain," PIERS Online, Vol. 1, No. 6, 638-641, 2005.
    doi:10.2529/PIERS041212170215

    25. Sadafi, A. H., Z. Mehboodi, and D. Sardari, "A review of the mechanisms of interaction between the extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and human biology," PIERS Online, Vol. 2, No. 1, 99-103, 2006.
    doi:10.2529/PIERS050905183145

    26. Lin, P. W., C. C. Wu, C. H. Chen, H. O. Ho, Y. C. Chen, and M. T. Sheu, "Characterization of cortical neuron outgrowth in two- and three-dimensional culture systems," J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B. Appl. Biomater., Vol. 75, No. 1, 146-157, 2005.

    27. Marino, C., G. Cristalli, P. Galloni, P. Pasqualetti, M. Piscitelli, and G. A. Lovisolo, "Effects of microwaves (900 MHz) on the cochlear receptor: Exposure systems and preliminary results," Radiat. Environ. Biophys., Vol. 39, No. 2, 131-136, 2000.
    doi:10.1007/s004110000049

    28. Gavrieli, Y., Y. Sherman, and S. A. Ben-Sasson, "Identification of programmed cell death in situ via specific labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation," J. Cell. Biol., Vol. 119, No. 3, 493-501, 1992.
    doi:10.1083/jcb.119.3.493

    29. Reed, J. C., T. Miyashita, S. Krajewski, S. Takayama, C. Aime-Sempe, S. Kitada, T. Sato, H. G. Wang, M. Harigai, M. Hanada, M. Krajewska, K. Kochel, J. Millan, and H. Kobayashi, "Bcl-2 family proteins and the regulation of programmed cell death in leukemia and lymphoma," Cancer Treat. Res., Vol. 84, 31-72, 1996.

    30. Oltvai, Z. N., C. L. Milliman, and S. J. Korsmeyer, "Bcl-2 heterodimerizes in vivo with a conserved homolog, Bax, that accelerates programmed cell death," Cell, Vol. 74, No. 4, 609-619, 1993.
    doi:10.1016/0092-8674(93)90509-O

    31. Bhattacharyya, A., D. Mandal, L. Lahiry, G. Sa, and T. Das, "Black tea protects immunocytes from tumor-induced apoptosis by changing Bcl-2/Bax ratio," Cancer Lett., Vol. 209, No. 2, 147-154, 2004.
    doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2003.12.025

    32. Childs, A. C., S. L. Phaneuf, A. J. Dirks, T. Phillips, and C. Leeuwenburgh, "Doxorubicin treatment in vivo causes cytochrome C release and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, as well as increased mitochondrial efficiency, superoxide dismutase activity, and Bcl-2:Bax ratio," Cancer Res., Vol. 62, No. 16, 4592-4598, 2002.

    33. Wei, H., B. Kang, W. Wei, G. Liang, Q. C. Meng, Y. Li, and R. G. Eckenhoff, "Isoflurane and sevoflurane affect cell survival and BCL-2/BAX ratio differently," Brain Res., Vol. 1037, No. 1-2, 139-147, 2005.
    doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2005.01.009