|
|
The authors conducted experiments in immature and young adult rats to test the effects of exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) on the blood-brain barrier (BBB). They reasoned that rats at this age would be more susceptible to the effects of RFR exposure. The authors examined levels of genes that encode 3 proteins that are involved in the structural integrity of the BBB. They also tested for vascular permeability in to brain tissues by using the tracer FITC-dextran, labeled with a fluorescein dye. As a positive control experiment, immature rats were injected intraperitoneally with 1,3-dinitrobenzene. This substance, which is thought to disrupt the BBB, was associated with a decrease in the three genes and with transfer of the dextran. In the RFR experiment, rats at the age of 4 (immature) and 10 (young adults) weeks were exposed to RFR at 1439 MHz (SAR brain-average 0, 2, and 6 W/kg) for 90 minutes a day for 6 days per week over 1 or2 weeks. There was no effect on the expression of the genes or on dextran permeability.
|
|