Microwave radiation leading to shrinkage of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons mediated by SNK-SPAR pathway

•Long term microwave radiation of 30 mW/cm2 induced learning and memory deficit of rats.•Microwave radiation led to shrinkage or loss of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons.•Dysfunction of SNK-SPAR pathway induced by microwave exposure resulted in alteration of spine distribution. The populariza...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain research 2018-01, Vol.1679, p.134-143
Main Authors: Zhi, Wei-Jia, Peng, Rui-Yun, Li, Hai-Juan, Zou, Yong, Yao, Bin-Wei, Wang, Chang-Zhen, Liu, Zong-Huan, Gao, Xiao-Hui, Xu, Xin-Ping, Dong, Ji, Zhao, Li, Zhou, Hong-Mei, Wang, Li-Feng, Hu, Xiang-Jun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Dendritic spines
Learning and memory
Microwave radiation
SNK-SPAR pathway
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Summary:•Long term microwave radiation of 30 mW/cm2 induced learning and memory deficit of rats.•Microwave radiation led to shrinkage or loss of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons.•Dysfunction of SNK-SPAR pathway induced by microwave exposure resulted in alteration of spine distribution. The popularization of microwave raised concerns about its influence on health including cognitive function which is associated greatly with dendritic spines plasticity. SNK-SPAR is a molecular pathway for neuronal homeostatic plasticity during chronically elevated activity. In this study, Wistar rats were exposed to microwaves (30 mW/cm2 for 6 min, 3 times/week for 6 weeks). Spatial learning and memory function, distribution of dendritic spines, ultrastructure of the neurons and their dendritic spines in hippocampus as well as the related critical molecules of SNK-SPAR pathway were examined at different time points after microwave exposure. There was deficiency in spatial learning and memory in rats, loss of spines in granule cells and shrinkage of mature spines in pyramidal cells, accompanied with alteration of ultrastructure of hippocampus neurons. After exposure to 30 mW/cm2 microwave radiation, the up-regulated SNK induced decrease of SPAR and PSD-95, which was thought to cause the changes mentioned above. In conclusion, the microwave radiation led to shrinkage and even loss of dendritic spines in hippocampus by SNK-SPAR pathway, resulting in the cognitive impairments.
ISSN:0006-8993
1872-6240
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2017.11.020