Effect of mobile phone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations on oxidative stress and feeding behaviour in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats

Abstract

Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from mobile phones is known to produce a stress response because of its effect on hypothalamus. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives with increasing usage not only in terms of number of users but also increase in talk time. The present study aimed to study the effect of mobile phone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations on oxidative stress and feeding behaviour assessment in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Twelve male SD rats of 10–12 weeks old, weighing 180–220 g, were housed and allowed to acclimatise in a room with 12:12 h light-dark cycle with ad libitum amount of food and reverse osmosis (RO) water before the start of the study. Then, rats were divided into control and RF-EMR exposed groups, and everyday feed intake and body weight were measured. At the end of the study period, blood sample was collected through retro orbital puncture for biochemical investigations. The present study showed significant increase in malondialdehyde and serum corticosterone levels and decrease feeding behaviour in rats exposed to RF-EMR in rats exposed to RF-EMR. This study proves that mobile RF-EMR causes oxidative stress and oxidative damage leading to decreased feeding behaviour in SD rats.