title: Effect of long-term (2 years) exposure of mouse brains to global system for mobile communication (GSM) radiofrequency fields on astrocytic immunoreactivity.
abstract: This study was designed to determine whether long-term (2 years) brain exposure to mobile telephone radiofrequency (RF) fields produces any astrocytic activation as these glia react to a wide range of neural perturbations by astrogliosis. Using a purpose-designed exposure system at 900 MHz, mice were given a single, far-field whole body exposure at a specific absorption rate of 4 W/kg on five successive days per week for 104 weeks. Control mice were sham-exposed or freely mobile in a cage to control any stress caused by immobilization in the exposure module. Brains were perfusion-fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and three coronal levels immunostained for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). These brain slices were then examined by light microscopy and the amount of this immunomarker quantified using a color deconvolution method. There was no change in astrocytic GFAP immunostaining in brains after long-term exposure to mobile telephony microwaves compared to control (sham-exposed or freely moving caged mice). It was concluded that long-term (2 years) exposure of murine brains to mobile telephone RF fields did not produce any astrocytic reaction (astrogliosis) detectable by GFAP immunostaining.
authors.affiliation: Schools of Medical and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; SA Pathology, Hanson Institute Centre for Neurological Diseases, Adelaide, SA, Australia; NH&MRC Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, Australia.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Court-Kowalski
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Finnie
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manavis
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Blumbergs
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Helps
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vink
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D040421:Cell Phone; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C528900:glial fibrillary astrocytic protein, mouse
keywords: astrocytic reaction; brain; immunohistochemistry; mobile telephony