ID Number		1528
Study Type		In Vivo
Model		900 MHz (GSM), 2 GHz (UMTS) exposure to rats and analysis of brain function via ultrasound imaging, blood brain barrier permeability and neuron degeneration.
Details		In studies to address prior reports of BBB leakage in a rat migrane model, Sprague Dawley rats in which the superior cervical ganglia innervating both brain and meningeal blood vessels had been removed to cause dura matter inflamation and duplicate conditions of chronic migraine were exposed to 900 MHz (GSM) RF for 2 hours at an SAR of 0.15, 0.5, and 2 W/kg (brain average) (2 W/kg brain average corresponds to ~20 W/kg in the dura matter, 0.5 W/kg brain average corresponds to ~ 4 W/kg in the dura matter) using a head-first loop antenna exposure system (with loop positioned 10 degrees to one side to allow differential hemisphere effects to be observed). Fifteen minutes before the end of exposure, a fluorescent labeled albumin solution was injected via venous catheter. Exposure in the sympathectomized rats at 0.5 W/kg, and to a much greater extent at 2 W/kg, resulted in blood brain barrier leakage in both dura matter areas as well as in regions within the brain tissue that were directly under the loop antenna. The extent of the BBB leakage in sympathectomized rats was similar to rats recieving osmotic shock. In more recent studies reported at BEMS 2002 in Quebec, BBB leakage was also observed in non-sympathectomized rats exposed to RF, although to a lesser extent than in sympathectomized rats. Hemisphere effects, as well as time dependent (10' vs 40' exposures) and dose dependent (0.5 vs 2 W/kg) linear response effects reported. Blood pressures did not elevate in exposed animals to an extent that would explain the BBB leakage. At 0.12 W/kg there was no BBB leakage in any of the rat models. In studies to address BBB leakage in healthy rats, Sprage Dawley rats exposed to 900 MHz (GSM), 1800 MHz (GSM) or 2 GHz (UMTS) RF at 0.026, 0.26, 2.6, and 13 W/kg for 2 h/day, 5 d/wk, for 4 weeks and sacrificed immediately, 1, 7, or 50 days after the last exposure. Exposure was performed (head first) with rats restrained in plastic "rockets" using a loop antenna exposure system. Rat brains were sectioned and analyzed for BBB permeability and neuron degeneration. The authors initially reported small but statistically significant increases in BBB permeability at the lowest (0.026 W/kg) and highest (13 W/kg) exposure levels in isolated brain zones when analyzed 50 days after exposure as well as neuron degeneration at intermediate SAR (0.26 W/kg) with GSM and UMTS. However further analysis did not confirm any effects on BBB leakage, neuron degeneration or apoptosis. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Poulletier de Gannes et al. 2017 (IEEE #6873): Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeation and neuron degeneration were assessed in the rat brain following exposure to mobile communication radiofrequency (RF) signals (GSM-1800 and UMTS-1950). Two protocols were used: (i) single 2 h exposure, with rats sacrificed immediately, and 1 h, 1, 7, or 50 days later, and (ii) repeated exposures (2 h/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks) with the effects assessed immediately and 50 days after the end of exposure. The rats' heads were exposed at brain-averaged specific absorption rates (BASAR) of 0.026, 0.26, 2.6, and 13 W/kg. No adverse impact in terms of BBB leakage or neuron degeneration was observed after single exposures or immediately after the end of repeated exposure, with the exception of a transient BBB leakage (UMTS, 0.26 W/kg). Fifty days after repeated exposure, the occurrence of degenerating neurons was unchanged on average. However, a significant increased albumin leakage was detected with both RF signals at 13 W/kg. In this work, the strongest, delayed effect was induced by GSM-1800 at 13 W/kg. Considering that 13 W/kg BASAR in the rat head is equivalent to 4 times as much in the human head, deleterious effects may occur following repeated human brain exposure above 50 W/kg.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Bordeaux, France - b.veyret@piom.u-bordeaux.fr
Funding Agency		CoMoBio, France, BfS, Germany, Aquitaine, France, CNRS, France, DMF, Germany
Country		FRANCE
References		Poulletier de Gannes, F et al. Radiat Res, (2009) 172:359-367 Poulletier de Gannes, F et al. Sci Rep., (2017) 7:15496- Masuda, H et al. J Appl Physiol. , (2011) 110:142-148 Orlacchio, R et al. Bioelectromagnetics. , (2022) 43:257-267
Comments		No dose response makes data questionable. Other Salford replication studies by McQuade and Mason at Brooks and Masuda in Japan.