Effects of 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure on DNA damage and cellular functions in primary cultured neurogenic cells

Purpose: To systematically evaluate the effects of 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure on DNA damage and cellular functions in primary cultured neurogenic cells.

Materials and methods: The primary cultured astrocytes, microglia and cortical neurons were exposed to RF-EMF at a SAR of 4.0 W/kg. The DNA damage was evaluated by γH2AX foci formation assay. The secretions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) in astrocytes and microglia, microglial phagocytic activity and neuronal development were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, phagocytosis assay and immunofluorescent staining on microtubule-associated protein tau, microtubule-associated protein 2, postsynaptic density 95 and gephyrin, respectively.

Results: RF-EMF exposure did not significantly induce γH2AX foci formation in three primary cultured neurogenic cells. Furthermore, RF-EMF exposure did not significantly affect the secretion of cytokines in astrocytes and microglia, and the morphological indicators of dendrites or synapses of cortical neurons. However, the exposure significantly reduced the phagocytic activity of microglia and inhibited the axon branch length and branch number of cortical neurons.

Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that exposure to RF-EMF did not elicit DNA damage but inhibited the phagocytic ability of microglia and the axon branch length and branch number of cortical neurons.