Effect of microwave radiation on adult neurogenesis and behavior of prenatally exposed rats

Abstract

Overview

Postnatal neurogenesis is increasingly understood to be highly sensitive to environmental factors, among which microwave electromagnetic radiation (MWR) is prominent. This study investigates how prenatal exposure to MWR affects neurogenesis in rat brains and corresponding behavioral outcomes later in life.

Methods

• Female rats were exposed to MWR at a frequency of 2.45 GHz for 2 hours daily throughout pregnancy.
• Offspring were allowed to survive to juvenile or adult age for further evaluation.
• Neurogenesis in two brain regions—the rostral migratory stream (RMS) and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus—was analyzed through morphological assessment, focusing on both cell proliferation and cell death.
• Differentiation of nitrergic neurons in the RMS was specifically assessed.
• Rats surviving to adulthood also underwent behavioral evaluation.

Findings

• Prenatal MWR exposure caused significant changes in the numbers of both proliferating and dying cells, with variances depending on age and neurogenic region.
• MWR exposure attenuated the maturation of nitrergic neurons in the RMS of both juvenile and adult rats.
• The morphological changes observed in neurogenesis were paralleled by changes in animal behavior, suggesting broader neurological impact.

Conclusion

Disrupted neurogenesis and altered behaviors in rats indicate that the developing brain is highly sensitive to microwave electromagnetic radiation. These results underscore a demonstrable link between prenatal MWR exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, with implications for EMF safety regarding health risks during pregnancy.