Effects of chronic exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on energy balance in developing rats

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 2735 - 2746
• Main Authors: Pelletier, Amandine, Delanaud, Stéphane, Décima, Pauline, Thuroczy, Gyorgy, de Seze, René, Cerri, Matteo, Bach, Véronique, Libert, Jean-Pierre, Loos, Nathalie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.05.2013; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Aging; Air temperature; Animals; Antennas; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biomedical research; Body temperature; Body Temperature Regulation - radiation effects; Cellular telephones; Chronic exposure; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology and Environmental Toxicology : new concepts; Electromagnetic fields; Electromagnetic Fields - adverse effects; Electromagnetics; Electromagnetism; Energy; Energy balance; Energy conservation; Energy intake; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Sciences; Exposure; Eye movements; Feeding behavior; Feeding Behavior - radiation effects; Food intake; Heat; Homeostasis; Human exposure; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Low frequency; Male; new tools; Prazosin; Prazosin - administration & dosage; Radio frequency; Radio Waves - adverse effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; REM sleep; Rodents; Sleep; Sleep - radiation effects; Studies; Tail - blood supply; Tail - radiation effects; Temperature; Thermoregulatory behavior; Time Factors; Toxicology; Vasoconstriction; Vasoconstriction - radiation effects; Vasodilator Agents - administration & dosage; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Europe; Thermoregulation; Sleep; Young rat; Feeding behaviour; Radiofrequency electromagnetic field; THERMOREGULATION; SLEEP; RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS; FEEDING BEHAVIOR; YOUNG RAT
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-1266-5

The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on the control of body energy balance in developing organisms have not been studied, despite the involvement of energy status in vital physiological functions. We examined the effects of chronic RF-EMF exposure (900 MHz, 1 V m −1 ) on the main functions involved in body energy homeostasis (feeding behaviour, sleep and thermoregulatory processes). Thirteen juvenile male Wistar rats were exposed to continuous RF-EMF for 5 weeks at 24 °C of air temperature ( T a ) and compared with 11 non-exposed animals. Hence, at the beginning of the 6th week of exposure, the functions were recorded at T a of 24 °C and then at 31 °C. We showed that the frequency of rapid eye movement sleep episodes was greater in the RF-EMF-exposed group, independently of T a (+42.1 % at 24 °C and +31.6 % at 31 °C). The other effects of RF-EMF exposure on several sleep parameters were dependent on T a . At 31 °C, RF-EMF-exposed animals had a significantly lower subcutaneous tail temperature (−1.21 °C) than controls at all sleep stages; this suggested peripheral vasoconstriction, which was confirmed in an experiment with the vasodilatator prazosin. Exposure to RF-EMF also increased daytime food intake (+0.22 g h −1 ). Most of the observed effects of RF-EMF exposure were dependent on T a . Exposure to RF-EMF appears to modify the functioning of vasomotor tone by acting peripherally through α-adrenoceptors. The elicited vasoconstriction may restrict body cooling, whereas energy intake increases. Our results show that RF-EMF exposure can induce energy-saving processes without strongly disturbing the overall sleep pattern.