Effect of mobile telephony on blood-brain barrier permeability in the fetal mouse brain

• Published in: Pathology Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 63 - 65
• Main Authors: Finnie, John W., Blumbergs, Peter C., Cai, Zhao, Manavis, Jim, Kuchel, Timothy R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 01.02.2006; Informa UK Ltd; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: Albumins - analysis; Animals; BBB permeability; Biological and medical sciences; Blood-Brain Barrier - embryology; Blood-Brain Barrier - pathology; Blood-Brain Barrier - physiology; Brain - embryology; Brain - pathology; Cadmium - administration & dosage; Cell Membrane Permeability - drug effects; Cell Membrane Permeability - physiology; Cell Phone; Cerebellum - embryology; Cerebellum - pathology; Cerebral Cortex - embryology; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Female; fetal brain; Hippocampus - embryology; Hippocampus - pathology; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Mesencephalon - embryology; Mesencephalon - pathology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mobile telephony; Models, Animal; murine model; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - pathology; Radio Waves - adverse effects; Thalamus - embryology; Thalamus - pathology; BBB; RF; fetal brain; SAR; Mobile telephony; murine model; BBB permeability; Animal model; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Permeability; Blood brain barrier; Encephalon; Vertebrata; Anatomic pathology; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Fetus
• DOI: 10.1080/00313020500459607
• ISSN: 0031-3025

To study the effect of mobile telephone exposure on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in the immature brain. Using a purpose-designed exposure system at 900 MHz, pregnant mice were given a single, far-field, whole body exposure at a specific absorption rate of 4W/kg for 60min/day from day 1 to day 19 of gestation. Pregnant control mice were sham-exposed or freely mobile in a cage without further restraint and a positive control group with cadmium-induced BBB damage was also included. Immediately prior to parturition on gestational day 19, fetal heads were collected, fixed in Bouin’s fixative and paraffin embedded. Disruption of BBB integrity was detected immunohistochemically using endogenous albumin as a vascular tracer in cerebral cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, hippocampus, cerebellum, midbrain and medulla. No albumin extravasation was found in exposed or control brains. In this animal model, whole of gestation exposure to global system for mobile communication-like radiofrequency fields did not produce any increase in vascular permeability in the fetal brain regions studied using endogenous albumin as a light microscopic immunohistochemical marker.