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.
Highlights
Both rats and mice tend to interact more with novel than with familiar objects
Such an effect has been suggested to result from impaired glutamatergic synaptic transmission to pyramidal cells in the prefrontal cortex, implying that cortical neurons are associated with NORT and that their excitability may be affected by RF electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) exposure[6]
We did reveal changes in object recognition, dendritic-spine density and length in hippocampal and medial prefrontal cortical (mPFC) neurons, and in neuronal excitability in hippocampal and mPFC in RF-EMR-exposed mice. These results indicate that RF-EMR exposure exerted direct, non-thermally-mediated effects
Summary
Both rats and mice tend to interact more with novel than with familiar objects. This natural tendency has been exploited in many behavioral assays, notably the NORT9. In addition to changing hippocampal morphology and/or functioning, other studies have demonstrated that prenatal exposure to mobile-phone radiation can cause adult memory impairment, as measured by NORT6 Such an effect has been suggested to result from impaired glutamatergic synaptic transmission to pyramidal cells in the prefrontal cortex, implying that cortical neurons are associated with NORT and that their excitability may be affected by RF-EMR exposure[6]. The present study aimed to determine the effects of single, high-density exposure to mobile-phone radiation (1.8 GHz) on novel object recognition memory, dendritic-spine morphology, and the excitability of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal and prefrontal cortices in mice, using behavioral tests (open field and object recognition tests), histology (Golgi staining), and electrophysiology (whole-cell current-clamp)
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