EFFECT OF MOBILE PHONE RADIOFREQUENCY ON HIPPOCAMPAL CA3 NEURONS

Objective: The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of mobile phone [MP] radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure for different durations on dendritic morphology and nerve cell damage in CA3 sub region of Hippocampus in Swiss albino mice. Materials &Methods: Total 70 Swiss albino mice of both sexes were used in the study. Animals were divided into 10 groups randomly. Five groups (n=6) were used for assessment of neuronal damage by cresyl violet staining. Another five groups (n=8) were used for assessment of dendritic morphology by Golgi- Cox staining. Groups were divided by exposure duration (15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes/ per day for 30 days); age matched unexposed groups served as controls. Results: Results of the study have shown that there was decrease in the number of viable neurons and dendritic arborization in CA3 sub region of hippocampus in 30, 45 and 60 min exposed groups. Conclusions: Increased neuronal damage and decreased dendritic arborization of hippocampal CA3 neurons was found with increase in exposure duration of MPRF-EMF.