[Effect of 900Mhz electromagnetic fields on energy metabolism in postnatal rat cerebral cortical neurons]
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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Determination of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Reactive Oxygen Species in Live Rat Cortical Neurons
Published on: May 23, 2011
Qiang Wang1, Zhao-jin Cao, Xue-tao Bai
1National Institute of Environmental Health and Related Product Safety, China CDC, Beijing 100021, China.
Objective:
To study the effect of 900MHz low intensity microwave electromagnetic fields (EMF) on AMPA GluR2 and the concentration of intracellular calcium in postnatal rat cerebral cortical neurons.
Methods:
Neurons were exposed to low intensity 900MHz continuous microwaves EMF (SAR = 3.22W/kg, 2.23W/kg, 1.15W/kg) for 2 hours per day in 4 or 6 consecutive days and for 12 hours at a time (SAR = 3.22W/kg). Such exposures were carried out to have knowledge of the effect of microwave on protein of GluR2 and intracellular calcium ions.
Results:
The results of immunochemistry and laser confocal scan showed that compared with sham, protein of GluR2 of exposed neurons were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.01), while intracellular calcium ions were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.01).
Conclusion:
The microwaves play a role of accumulation in the effect on exposed neurons, the trends in dose response relationship were found between the exposure intensity and the effects, effect of the microwave on exposed neurons should be classified as athermal effects of EMF.

