Effect of electromagnetic radiation of cell phone on learning and memory of offspring rats with maternal exposure

Objective To investigate the effect of maternal cell phone electrom agnetic radiation exposure on learning and memory ability of offspring rats.Methods Pregnant ratswere radiated with cell phone electrom agnetic radiation of different intensity.Then the activity of acetylcholine esterase(AChE) in new born rats' brain tissue was tested and Morris water maze was used to determine the learning and memory ability of the offspring rats.Results Significant increase of AChE activity was detected after the radiation among the rats of high (0.55±0.20 U/mg·prot) and moderate intensity group (0.51±0.14 U/mg·prot) compared to that of the control group(0.33±0.22 U/mg·prot, P<0.05 for all).Significant differences in place navigation were found at the second and third day of the radiation among the high (63.9±12.2, 66.6±20.4s) and moderate intensity group(55.1±20.5, 53.3±16.8s) compared to those of the control group(36.2±13.6, 32.9±16.5s, P<0.05 for all).At the fourth day, significant differences were found in place navigation among the rats of four groups(P<0.05).The offspring rats in high in tensity group showed less times of crossing over the target area than those in control group with a significant difference(P<0.05).Conclusion Exposure to electromagnetic radiation from cell phone during pregnancy has harm effects on learning and memory ability of offspring rats.