Histological and Histochemical Study of Radiofrequency Radiation effects on the Hippocampus during the Pre- and Postnatal Stages of Development

Background: The research was designed to model the exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) by habitual users of RFR-enabled devices and to observe possible aberrations in tissues that are attributable to exposures. The RFR exposure regimen modelled cases of continuous, and intermittent exposures in human conditions, using Wistar rats. The primary objective of the study was to study intrauterine and postnatal exposure to RFR and study its effects on specific brain structural and functional attributes.

Materials and Methods: Experimental Wistar rats were housed in facilities that enabled exposure to specific type of RFR source (the 4G RFR-emitting internet router) and for specific durations which included 21 days of pregnancy and 35 post-natal days, marking the point of puberty. Following exposure, animals were sacrificed to excise brain tissues for histological analysis using the haematoxylin and eosin technique, histochemical analysis using the Nissl technique, and immunohistochemical techniques including the IBA 1 and Caspase 3 techniques for inflammation and potential apoptosis. Representative histological and histochemical photomicrographs were analysed using principles of qualitative histology and histochemistry.

Results and Conclusion: Findings from the current research showed that RFR-exposure did not produce teratogenic or neurodegenerative effects within the hippocampus. This was evident from the study of the hippocampus’ histoarchitectural organisation, morphologies of the cells as well as their spatial distribution. Functional integrity of cells in the different regions of the hippocampal formation, namely the CA 1-4 areas as well as the dentate gyrus also showed that Nissl substance expression, which is a marker of neuron functional integrity, was relatively normally expressed across the experimental animals. This experimental modelling of human habitual exposure to RFR showed no evidence of prenatal teratogenic effects or postnatally induced extensive neurodegeneration up until puberty. However, it would be very important to indicate that RFR-exposure enhanced apoptotic potentials via the Caspase-3 pathway. The implications of this effect on later life mental health and neurological attributes will require further investigation