The effect of GSM mobile phone base station waves on hippocampus synaptic plasticity

Introduction: Over the last decade, exposure to electromagnetic waves due to base station antenna has increased. This in vivo study was planned for evaluating the effects of 950 MHz waves of GSM mobile phone system on dentate gyrus long-term potentiation. Materials and Methods: 32 naive male Wistar rats (3 months old, 220 + 15 g) were randomly divided into four groups (sham–exposed, continuous 950 MHz, 950 MHz with modulation and 950 MHz GSM field exposed). The exposure program was planned for 10 sessions at 3 days. Animals were exposed to electromagnetic field for 45min in a circular plastic chamber (mean electric field = 50.4 V/m). Immediately after ending exposure, anesthesia was induced for LTP induction. Field potentials were recorded and analyzed using the population spike amplitude, EPSP slope, EPSP slope maintenance and EPSP duration for 60-min. Results: There were no significant differences in population spike amplitude, EPSP slope and EPSP slope maintenance and EPSP duration among the four groups. Conclusion: This experiment provides no evidence indicating that rat's long-term potentiation can be affected by the whole-body exposure to 950 MHz field of GSM mobile phone system.