ID Number		1691
Study Type		In Vitro
Model		1900 MHz (GSM) exposure to primary mouse neurons and analysis of gene expression
Details		Primary mouse neurons and astrocytes were exposed to 1900 MHz (GSM) RF for 2 hours using a mobile phone hooked to the network and placed on the top of the petri dish in the incubator. The authors report RF exposure (with the phone in either an active call or in standby mode) resulted in gene expression changes in neurons, but changes were only seen when the phone was actively in a call in astrocytes. The authors report on 8 up-regulated and 1 down-regulated gene expression changes, with several involved in apoptotic pathways. The authors also speculate that the effects may have been due to the ELF component of phone emissions (measured at 50-100 nT).
Findings		Effects (poor study design)
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Kentucky, USA
Funding Agency		Private/Instit.
Country		UNITED STATES
References		Zhao, TY et al. Neurosci Lett, (2007) 412:34-38
Comments		No exposure assessment, just used a live phone hooked to the network - no idea of power output, no description of where the antenna was (exposure pattern), etc. Further, standby mode would not result in significant emissions, especially if the phone was not moved outside the network location area - if anything just short bursts to stay connected. Confirmation of gene array data with rtPCR- it was not clear whether just the assay was verified using the same RNA sample, or whether an entirely separate experiment was performed to confirm the initial results. Finally, several apoptotic genes (e.g., Bax, caspase-9) were NOT upregulated as they should have been if a real apoptotic path was activated.