Short-term 2.1 GHz radiofrequency radiation treatment induces significant changes on the auditory evoked potentials in adult rats

Abstract

Purpose: There is a growing interest in the usage of radiofrequency radiation (RF) as a noninvasive brain stimulation method. Previously reported data demonstrated that RF exposure caused a change in brain oscillations. Therefore, we aimed to investigate effects of RF on brain oscillation by measuring the auditory response of different brain regions in rats.

Materials and methods: Rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 12 per each group): Cage control (C), sham rats (Sh), and rats exposed to 2.1 GHz RF for 2 h/day for 7 days. At the end of the exposure, auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were recorded at different locations in rats. Latencies and amplitudes of AEPs, evoked power, inter-trial phase synchronization, and auditory evoked gamma responses were obtained in response to an auditory stimulus. Furthermore, TBARS levels and 4-HNE, GFAP, iNOS, and nNOS expressions were evaluated in all groups.

Results: Peak-to-peak amplitudes of AEPs were significantly higher in the RF group compared with the Sh group. There is no significant difference in peak latencies of AEPs between groups. Beside, evoked power, inter-trial phase synchronization, and auditory evoked gamma responses were significantly higher in the RF group compared with the Sh group. In addition, the RF group had significantly lower TBARS and 4-HNE levels than the Sh group. There were no significant differences between groups for GFAP, nNOS, and iNOS levels, and between the C and RF groups for all parameters.

Conclusions: Our present findings suggest that short-term RF treatment under chosen experimental conditions have statistically significant effect on neuronal networks of rats by probably reducing oxidative damage. However, this effect must be further studied for possible noninvasive brain stimulation.

Keywords:

• Electromagnetic fields
• brain oscillations
• lipid peroxidation
• astrogliosis
• rat

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from Akdeniz University Research Foundation, Turkey [Grant No: TSA-2017-2007].

Notes on contributors

Enis Hidisoglu

Enis Hidisoglu is a PhD student at Department of Biophysics in Faculty of Medicine in Akdeniz University, Turkey. His research interests include biological effects of electromagnetic fields, neurodegenerative diseases, electrophysiology, brain oscillations, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience.

Deniz Kantar-Gok

Deniz Kantar-Gok received her PhD degree from Akdeniz University, Turkey, in 2016. She is a postdoctoral researcher at Department of Biophysics in Faculty of Medicine in Akdeniz University. Her research interests include biological effects of electromagnetic fields, neurodegenerative disease, electrophysiology, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience.

Sukru Ozen

Sukru Ozen received his PhD degree from Sakarya University, Turkey, in 2003. He is a Professor at Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in Akdeniz University. His research interests include biological effects of electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic compatibility, wave propagations, numerical methods, applied electromagnetic and biomedical engineering problems.

Piraye Yargicoglu

Piraye Yargicoglu received her PhD degree from Akdeniz University, Turkey, in 1984.She is a Professor at Department of Biophysics in Faculty of Medicine in Akdeniz University. Her research areas include biological effects of electromagnetic fields, neurodegenerative disease, evoked potentials, learning and memory