1950 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields do not aggravate memory deficits in 5xFAD mice

Abstract

The increased use of mobile phones has generated public concern about the impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF‐EMF) on health. In the present study, we investigated whether RF‐EMFs induce molecular changes in amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and amyloid beta (Aβ)‐related memory impairment in the 5xFAD mouse, which is a widely used amyloid animal model. The 5xFAD mice at the age of 1.5 months were assigned to two groups (RF‐EMF‐ and sham‐exposed groups, eight mice per group). The RF‐EMF group was placed in a reverberation chamber and exposed to 1950 MHz electromagnetic fields for 3 months (SAR 5 W/kg, 2 h/day, 5 days/week). The Y‐maze, Morris water maze, and novel object recognition memory test were used to evaluate spatial and non‐spatial memory following 3‐month RF‐EMF exposure. Furthermore, Aβ deposition and APP and carboxyl‐terminal fragment β (CTFβ) levels were evaluated in the hippocampus and cortex of 5xFAD mice, and plasma levels of Aβ peptides were also investigated. In behavioral tests, mice that were exposed to RF‐EMF for 3 months did not exhibit differences in spatial and non‐spatial memory compared to the sham‐exposed group, and no apparent change was evident in locomotor activity. Consistent with behavioral data, RF‐EMF did not alter APP and CTFβ levels or Aβ deposition in the brains of the 5xFAD mice. These findings indicate that 3‐month RF‐EMF exposure did not affect Aβ‐related memory impairment or Aβ accumulation in the 5xFAD Alzheimer's disease model. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:391–399, 2016. © 2016 The Authors Bioelectromagnetics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Impact of Long-Term RF-EMF on Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in Aging Brains of C57BL/6 Mice

“…Further, following 7 months of RF-EMF exposure in young adult mice, no changes were observed in protein oxidative damage in mouse brains, indicating that chronic RF-EMF exposure might not induce detrimental effects on young-adult mice [ 46 ]. Additionally, previous reports indicated that RF-EMF did not affect memory or anxiety-related behaviors in either young-adult [ 39 , 45 , 47 ] or aged animals [ 41 , 48 ]. To examine the effects of RF-EMFs on basic locomotor activity, we performed an open field test.…”

“…However, other studies have reported that exposure to 900–2450 MHz signals did not induce spatial or non-spatial memory impairment in rats [ 43 ] or mice [ 44 ]. Previous studies reported that sub-chronic RF-EMF exposure (during 3 months) did not alter locomotor activity and glial cells (GFAP-positive astrocyte and Iba1-positive microglia) upon exposure of young mice (12 weeks old) to RF-EMF [ 45 ]. Further, following 7 months of RF-EMF exposure in young adult mice, no changes were observed in protein oxidative damage in mouse brains, indicating that chronic RF-EMF exposure might not induce detrimental effects on young-adult mice [ 46 ].…”

Possible Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure on Central Nerve System

“…The radial maze and Morris water maze test showed that learning and memory functions were reduced in rats exposed to 2,450 MHz EMF (Lai et al ., 1994; Wang and Lai, 2000), but no changes of working memory were observed in the radial maze test following whole body exposure for 45 minutes for 10 days at 2,450 MHz, 0.6 W/kg SAR (Cassel et al ., 2004; Cobb et al ., 2004) and in the Y-maze, Morris water maze, and novel object recognition memory test after exposed to 1950 MHz electromagnetic fields (SAR 5 W/kg, 2 h/day, 5 days/week) for 3 months (Son et al ., 2016). Recognition memory was studied using the object recognition test (Mortazavi et al ., 2014) using a head-only exposed mouse (900 MHz GSM, 1 and 3.5 W/kg SAR).…”

Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and Ionizing Radiation on Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing and Cell Death

“…Many studies have been carried out to discern whether RF-EMF exposure affects the cognitive functions of the brain. The results have revealed that RF-EMF exposure can lead to positive beneficial effects [11][12][13][14][15], negative harmful effects [16,17], or no effects [1,[18][19][20]. In AD transgenic animal models, positive beneficial effects after long-term RF-EMF exposure were usually observed [11][12][13][14].…”