The Effects of Prenatal Radiation of Mobile Phones on White Matter in Cerebellum of Rat Offspring

Abstract

Overview

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of prenatal exposure to mobile phone radiation, within the frequency range of 850 - 1,900 MHz, on the cerebellar white matter of rat offspring.

Methods

• Pregnant rats were divided into three groups: a short-term radiation group, a long-term radiation group, and a control group.
• Radiation exposure occurred for 6 hours/day and 24 hours/day during the first 17 days of pregnancy for the short-term and long-term groups, respectively.
• Cell morphology in the cerebellum was analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin staining, while protein expressions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods.

Findings

Significant morphological changes and alterations in protein expressions related to myelin and axonal integrity were observed in the cerebellum of offspring subjected to prenatal radiation:

• Decreased expressions of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofilament-L (NF-L) were noted in the long-term maternal radiation group compared to controls.
• Increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was found in the long-term radiation group, indicating heightened astrocyte activity.
• Differences in expression levels of MBP, NF-L, and GFAP were statistically significant (P＜0.05).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that prenatal exposure to mobile phone radiation can cause significant damage to myelin and axons, with increased astrocyte activity in the cerebellum of male rat offspring, indicating potential risks and the importance of regulating prenatal exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF).