Evaluation of the effect of 950 MHz waves of GSM mobile phone system on acquisition phase of rat’s spatial memory in Morris water maze

Introduction: With increasing in mobile communications, exposure to electromagnetic fields due to mobile handset and base station antenna has increased. This study was planned for evaluating the effects of whole-body exposure to 950 MHz GSM electromagnetic field on acquisition phase of spatial memory. Materials and Methods: 35 naive male Wistar Rats (3 month old, 220 +15 g) randomly divided in three groups (control n=12, sham-exposed n=11 and exposed n=12) and were trained in a circular water maze (3 days at 2 blocks, with 3 hours interval between blocks) to locate a submerged platform. For 10 session exposure program, the day before training, they were exposed with four 45 min electromagnetic field and one hour interval between exposures. In other days, according with training sessions, exposure was done just before each training session. Performances of animals were tested 24 hours after the last training, by a 60 second probe test. Evaluation indexes were escape latency at target and opposite quadrants, swim speed and length. Results: Analysis of the probe data test indicated that, there were no significant difference between control, sham and 950 MHz exposed groups (P=0.368). Conclusion: Results of this study provide no evidence indicating that acquisition phase of spatial memory can be affected by the whole-body exposure to 950 MHz electromagnetic fields.