Lack of effects of 1439 MHz electromagnetic near field exposure on the blood-brain barrier in immature and young rats

• Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2005-10, Vol.26 (7), p.578-588
• Main Authors: Kuribayashi, Masanori, Wang, Jianqing, Fujiwara, Osamu, Doi, Yuko, Nabae, Kyoko, Tamano, Seiko, Ogiso, Tadashi, Asamoto, Makoto, Shirai, Tomoyuki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging - physiology; Aging - radiation effects; Animals; Aquaporin 4 - metabolism; aquaporin-4; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 - metabolism; BBB permeability; Blood-Brain Barrier - physiology; Blood-Brain Barrier - radiation effects; Capillary Permeability - physiology; Capillary Permeability - radiation effects; Cell Membrane Permeability - physiology; Cell Membrane Permeability - radiation effects; Cell Phone; Cells, Cultured; cellular phone; Claudin-5; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Electromagnetic Fields; Male; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Microwaves; p-glycoprotein; Radiation Dosage; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344
• ISSN: 0197-8462; 1521-186X
• DOI: 10.1002/bem.20138

Possible effects of 1439 MHz electromagnetic near field (EMF) exposure on the blood–brain barrier (BBB) were investigated using immature (4 weeks old) and young (10 weeks old) rats, equivalent in age to the time when the BBB development is completed and the young adult, respectively. Alteration of BBB related genes, such as those encoding p‐glycoprotein, aquaporin‐4, and claudin‐5, was assessed at the protein and mRNA levels in the brain after local exposure of the head to EMF at 0, 2, and 6 W/kg specific energy absorption rates (SARs) for 90 min/day for 1 or 2 weeks. Although expression of the 3 genes was clearly decreased after administration of 1,3‐dinitrobenzene (DNB) as a positive control, when compared with the control values, there were no pathologically relevant differences with the EMF at any exposure levels at either age. Vascular permeability, monitored with reference to transfer of FITC‐dextran, FD20, was not affected by EMF exposure. Thus, these findings suggest that local exposure of the head to 1439 MHz EMF exerts no adverse effects on the BBB in immature and young rats. Bioelectromagnetics 26:578–588, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.