[Effect of 900MHz electromagnetic fields on energy metabolism of cerebral cortical neurons in postnatal rat].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of low intensity microwave (900MHz) electromagnetic fields (EMF) on energy metabolism of cerebral cortical neurons in postnatal rat.


METHODS
Neurons were exposed to low intensity 900MHz continuous microwave EMF (9mW/cm2, SAR = 3.22mW/g) for 2 hours per day in 4 or 5 consecutive days and for 12 hours at a time. The authors chose cytochrome oxidase (CCO) as the biological end.


RESULTS
The results of cytochemistry showed that compared to the sham-exposed, a significant decrease of cytochrome oxidase activity in neurons exposed for 2 hours per day and the neurons exposed for 12 hours to be immediately experimented (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Down-regulation of CCO should be classified as 'non-thermal effects'. Cumulated power effect were observed in neuronal response to the microwave. The influence on the CCO of the chosen microwave EMF could be recovered to some extent. The effects had no close relation between the first exposure and the cultured age of neurons.
National Institute of Environmental Health and Related Product Safety, China CDC, Beijing 100021, China.
Qiang
Q
Wang
Zhaojin
Z
Cao
Xuetao
X
Bai
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008872:Microwaves; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV