Effect of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations (RF-EMR) on passive avoidance behaviour and hippocampal morphology in Wistar rats.
BACKGROUND
The interaction of mobile phone radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) with the brain is a serious concern of our society.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effect of RF-EMR from mobile phones on passive avoidance behaviour and hippocampal morphology in rats.


METHODS
Healthy male albino Wistar rats were exposed to RF-EMR by giving 50 missed calls (within 1 hour) per day for 4 weeks, keeping a GSM (0.9 GHz/1.8 GHz) mobile phone in vibratory mode (no ring tone) in the cage. After the experimental period, passive avoidance behaviour and hippocampal morphology were studied.


RESULTS
Passive avoidance behaviour was significantly affected in mobile phone RF-EMR-exposed rats demonstrated as shorter entrance latency to the dark compartment when compared to the control rats. Marked morphological changes were also observed in the CA(3) region of the hippocampus of the mobile phone-exposed rats in comparison to the control rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Mobile phone RF-EMR exposure significantly altered the passive avoidance behaviour and hippocampal morphology in rats.
Narayanan
Sareesh Naduvil
SN
Department of Physiology, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India. sareeshnn@yahoo.co.in
Kumar
Raju Suresh
RS
Potu
Bhagath Kumar
BK
Nayak
Satheesha
S
Bhat
P Gopalakrishna
PG
Mailankot
Maneesh
M
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000528:radiation effects*; D040421:Cell Phone; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D011846:Radio Waves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar