Alterations in body weight and blood glucose level of female hamsters exposed to electromagnetic fields of cell phones

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

A.R Lotfi ¹ ( Young Researchers Club, Islamic Azad University- Shabestar Branch, Shabestar, Iran )
حبیب Aghdam Shahryar ² ( Department of Animal Science, Islamic Azad University- Shabestar Branch, Shabestar, Iran )

Received: 2010-01-02 Accepted : 2010-05-29 Published : 2010-02-20

Keywords: Electromagnetic field, Cellular phone, blood glucose, hamster,

Abstract :

Microwaves such as those emitted from electromagnetic fields of cell phones can penetrate live tissues and results in changes of ion distribution in membranes and may interfere with metabolic reactions. Considering the increasing use of cell phones, in the present study the effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields of cell phones on body weight and blood glucose concentration of adult hamsters were investigated. Seventy two female hamsters were randomly allocated into three experimental groups. Group 1 served as the control group without the effect of electromagnetic field. Group 2 was exposed to electromagnetic field emitted by cell phones for 10 days (short term) and group 3 for 50 day (long term). In the latter groups, the exposure was 1 hour per day. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were weighed and blood glucose concentrations were determined by obtaining blood samples from 8 randomly selected hamsters in each group.  The blood glucose level was significantly higher in long-term exposed group in comparison with the control and short-term exposed groups (175, 11.6 and 107 mg/dl, respectively) (p<0.01). Also, long-term exposed group had more weight gain compared with the control and short-term exposed groups (114.5, 11.6 and 101 gr, respectively) (p<0.01). In this study, long term (50 day period) exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by cell phones resulted in significant increase in body weight and blood glucose levels of hamsters. Therefore, in long term, exposure to these fields could increase blood glucose levels and body weight of rodents.

References:

 

1-       Abbasi, M., Nakhjavani, M., Hamidi, S., Tarafdari, A.M. and Esteghamati, A. (2007): Constant magnetic field of 50 mT does not affect weight gain and blood glucose level in BALB/c mice. Med. Sci. Monit., 13: 151-154.    

2-       Aghdam shahryar, H., Lotfi, A.R., Bahojb, M. and Karami bonary A.R. (2009): Effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields emitted from a cellular phone on the T3, T4, and cortisol levels in Syrian hamsters.Bulletin of Veterinary Institute in Pulawy. 53: 233-236.

3-       Amara, S., Abdelmelek, H., Ben Salem, M., Abidi, R. and Sakly, M. (2006): Effects of Static Magnetic field exposure on Hematological and Biochemical parameters in Rats. Brazilian Archive of Biology and Technology. 49: 889-895.   

4-       Bellossi, A. (1992): Effect of a 12 Hz and of a 460 Hz Pulsed magnetic field on the weight of AKR mice. Biotherapy. 4:  277-283.

5-       Gerardi, G., De Ninno, A., Prosdocimi, M., Ferrari, V., Barbaro, F., Mazzariol, S. et al. (2008): Effects of electromagnetic fields of low frequency and low intensity on rat metabolism. Biomagnetic Research and Technology, 6: 3.

6-       Gorczynska, E. and Wegrzynowics, R. (1991): Glucose homeostasis in rats exposed to magnetic fields. Invest. Radiol., 26: 1095-1100.

7-       Guyton, C. and Hall, E. (2006): Textbook of Medical Physiology. 11th ed., Elsevier Inc, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pp: 952.

8-       Hirata, A., Watanabe, H. and Shiozawa, T. (2002): SAR and temperature increase in the human eye induced by obliquely incident plane waves. IEEE Transaction Electromagnetic Compatibility, 4: 592-594.

9-       Irmak,MK., Fadlloglu,E., Güleç,G., Erdogan,H., YagmurcaM. and Akyol,Ö. : Effects of electromagnetic radiation from a cellular telephone on the oxidant and antioxidant levels in rabbits. Cell. Biochem. Funct., 20: 279-283.

10-   Kato, M., Homna, K.I., Shigemitsu, T. and Shiga, Y. (1993): Effects of exposure to circularly polarized, 50Hz magnetic fields on melatonin levels in rats. Bioelectromagnetics, 14:97-106.

11-   Kolomiytseva, I.K., Novoselova, E.G., Kulagina, T.P. and Kuzin, A.M. (1987): The effect of ionizing radiation on lipid metabolism in lymphoid cells. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. Relat. Stud. Phys. Chem. Med.,51:53-58.

12-   Koyu, A., Cesur, G., Özgüner, F., Akdogan, M., Mollaoglu, H. and Özen, Ş. (2005): Effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic field on TSH and thyroid hormones in rats. Toxicology Letters, 157: 257-262. 

13-   Lee, J.S., Ahn, S.S., Jung, K.C., Kirn, Y.W. and Lee, S.K. (2004): Effects of 60 Hz electromagnetic field exposure on testicular germ cell apoptosis in mice. Asian Journal of Andrology, 6: 29-34.   

14-   Lerchl, A., Krüger, H., Niehaus, M., Streckert,  J.R., Bitz,  A.K. and Hansen, V. (2008): Effects of mobile phone electromagnetic fields at non thermal SAR values on melatonin and body weight of Djungarian hamsters (phodopus sungorus). Journal of Pineal Research, 44: 267-272.

15-   Lotfi, AR. and Aghdam shahryar, H. (2009): Effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phone on total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of plasma in Syrian hamsters (mesocricetus auratus). Journal of Applied Biological Sciences, 2: 85-88.

16-   Öcal, I., Kalkan, T. and Günay, I. (2008): Effects of alternating magnetic Field on the metabolism of the healthy and diabetic organisms. Brazilian Archive of Biology and Technology, 51:523-530.

17-   Oral, B., Guney, M., Ozguner, F., Karahan, N., Mungan, T., Comlekci, S., et al. (2006): Endometrial apoptosis induced by a 900-MHz mobile phone: Preventive effects of vitamins E and C. Advances in Therapy, 23: 957-973. 

18-   Sadeghi, H., Zare, S., Hayatgeibi, H., Alivandi, S. and Ebadi, A.G. (2006): Biological effect of power frequency magnetic fields on serum biochemical parameters in Guinea pigs. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 6: 1083-1087.

19-   Sihem, C., Hafedh, A., Mohsen, S., Marc, PJ. and Khmais, BR. (2006): Effects of sub-acute exposure to magnetic field on blood hematological and biochemical parameters in female rats. Turkish Journal of Hematology, 23: 182-187.

20-   Squires, E.J. (2003): Applied Animal Endocrinology. 1st ed., CABI Publishing, London, pp: 209-210.