title: Effect of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on novel object associative recognition memory in mice.
abstract: Mounting evidence suggests that exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) can influence learning and memory in rodents. In this study, we examined the effects of single exposure to 1.8 GHz RF-EMR for 30 min on subsequent recognition memory in mice, using the novel object recognition task (NORT). RF-EMR exposure at an intensity of >2.2 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) power density induced a significant density-dependent increase in NORT index with no corresponding changes in spontaneous locomotor activity. RF-EMR exposure increased dendritic-spine density and length in hippocampal and prefrontal cortical neurons, as shown by Golgi staining. Whole-cell recordings in acute hippocampal and medial prefrontal cortical slices showed that RF-EMR exposure significantly altered the resting membrane potential and action potential frequency, and reduced the action potential half-width, threshold, and onset delay in pyramidal neurons. These results demonstrate that exposure to 1.8 GHz RF-EMR for 30 min can significantly increase recognition memory in mice, and can change dendritic-spine morphology and neuronal excitability in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The SAR in this study (3.3 W/kg) was outside the range encountered in normal daily life, and its relevance as a potential therapeutic approach for disorders associated with recognition memory deficits remains to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Physics department, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-He
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Qian-Ru
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Physics department, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Qi
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Physics department, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ai
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Mei
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000528:radiation effects; D000818:Animals; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D060733:Electromagnetic Radiation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008568:Memory; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects