The effect of caffeine on neuron number of rats exposed to 900-MHz electromagnetic field

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by cell phones decreased the number of neuronsin some parts of the brain. It was also shown that caffeine protects the nerve cells. This study examines if caffeine has any effectson preventing neuron loss in rats exposed to EMF. Rats were exposed to a 900-MHz EMF for 60 min a day for 28 days. The ratsthat were exposed to EMF were fed 1 mg/L caffeinated water instead of tap water. The rats in the sham group were put inside theexposure chamber but were not exposed to EMF. The changes in the hippocampal and cerebellar neuron numbers were examined withstereological histological methods. EMF application caused a significant decrease in the number of the cerebellar Purkinje neuronsand the hippocampal pyramidal neurons. In the group that received caffeine with EMF exposure, the decrease in neuron number wasprevented in both the hippocampus and the cerebellum. The results show that caffeine protects the cerebellum and the hippocampusfrom neural damage induced by EMF exposure.