Effects of pre- and postnatal exposure to 1880-1900MHz DECT base radiation on development in the rat

M Stasinopoulou; A F Fragopoulou; A Stamatakis; G Mantziaras; K Skouroliakou; I S Papassideri; F Stylianopoulou; H Lai; N Kostomitsopoulos; L H Margaritis

doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.08.008

Effects of pre- and postnatal exposure to 1880-1900MHz DECT base radiation on development in the rat

Reprod Toxicol. 2016 Oct:65:248-262. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.08.008. Epub 2016 Aug 17.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis 15784, Zografou, Athens, Greece; Laboratory Animal Facilities, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
² Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis 15784, Zografou, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: adamantia.fragkopoulou@ki.se.
³ Biology - Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, 11527 Athens, Greece.
⁴ Laboratory Animal Facilities, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; Veterinary Department, Medical Directorate of Hellenic Airforce General Staff, Athens, Greece.
⁵ Department of Energy Technology Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, 12210 Athens, Greece.
⁶ Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis 15784, Zografou, Athens, Greece.
⁷ Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, WA 98195-5061, USA.
⁸ Laboratory Animal Facilities, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.

PMID: 27544572
DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.08.008

Abstract

In the present study, to evaluate the effects of wireless 1880-1900MHz Digital Enhanced Communication Telephony (DECT) base radiation on fetal and postnatal development, Wistar rats were exposed at an average electric field intensity of 3.7V/m, 12h/day, during pregnancy. After parturition, a group of dams and offspring were similarly exposed for another 22days. Controls were sham-exposed. The data showed that DECT base radiation exposure caused heart rate increase in the embryos on the 17th day of pregnancy. Moreover, significant changes on the newborns' somatometric characteristics were noticed. Pyramidal cell loss and glia fibrilliary acidic protein (GFAP) over-expression were detected in the CA4 region of the hippocampus of the 22-day old pups that were irradiated either during prenatal life or both pre- and postnatally. Changes in the integrity of the brain in the 22-day old pups could potentially be related to developmental behavioral changes during the fetal period.

Keywords: Cordless phones; Embryos; Fertility; GFAP; Gestation period; Hippocampus; Offspring; Ultrasound.

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain* / metabolism
Brain* / pathology
Electromagnetic Fields*
Embryonic Development
Female
Fertility
Fetal Development
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
Heart Rate
Litter Size
Male
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
Rats, Wistar
Telephone*

Substances

GFAP protein, rat
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein