Effect of long-term mobile communication microwave exposure on vascular permeability in mouse brain.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of long-term exposure to global system for mobile communication (GSM) radiofrequency fields on vascular permeability in murine brains.


METHODS
Using a purpose-designed exposure system at 900 MHz, mice were given a 60-minute far-field, whole body exposure on each of 5 days per week for 104 weeks at specific absorption rates (SAR) of 0.25, 1.0,2.0 and 4.0 W/kg. Control mice were sham-exposed or permitted free movement in a cage to evaluate any stress-related effects. Albumin immunohistochemistry was used to detect increased vascular permeability and the efficacy of the vascular tracer was confirmed with a positive control group exposed to a clostridial toxin known to increase vascular permeability in the brain.


RESULTS
In all exposed and control groups, albumin extravasation was minimal, often leptomeningeal, and was deemed insignificant as a maximum of three capillaries or venules in a given brain showed leakage from the very many blood vessels present in the three coronal brain sections.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that prolonged exposure to mobile telephone-type radiation produces negligible disruption to blood-brain barrier integrity at the light microscope level using endogenous albumin as a vascular tracer.
Veterinary Services Division, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
John W
JW
Finnie
Peter C
PC
Blumbergs
Jim
J
Manavis
Tammy D
TD
Utteridge
Val
V
Gebski
Ruth A
RA
Davies
Barrie
B
Vernon-Roberts
Timothy R
TR
Kuchel
D000818:Animals; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D040421:Cell Phone; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
D012709:Serum Albumin