Effect of Electromagnetic Field Emitted from Mobile Phone on Brain and Heart its Possible Protection by Vitamins C and E in Male Rats

The widespread use of mobile phone in recent years has raised the research activities in many countries to determine the consequences of exposure to the low intensity electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of mobile phone. Since several experiment studies suggest a role of reactive oxygen species in EMR induced oxidative damage in tissues. In this study, we investigated the effects of exposure of brain and heart to electromagnetic radiation emitted from mobile phone on rats, focusing on antioxidant enzymes activities, various oxidant parameters and histopathological changes. The antioxidant protective effects of Vit C and E on oxidant, antioxidant parameters were also studied. Wistar albino rats were divided into 12 groups. Group one; control group, group two received vitamin C (0.04mg V.C/kg b.wt), group three received vitamin E (0.027mg V.E/kg b.wt), groups 4, 7 10 are exposed to electromagnetic waves emitted from ringing Mobile phone at intervals (1/4, 1/2 1 hr/day for 2-weeks), groups 5, 8 11 are exposed to Electromagnetic waves emitted from ringing Mobile phone at intervals (1/4, 1/2 1 hr/day for 2-weeks) + Vit. C; groups 6, 9 12 are exposed to Electromagnetic waves emitted from ringing Mobile phone at intervals (1/4, 1/2 1 hr/day for 2- weeks) + Vit. E. The Mobile phones are hanging at a distance about 50cm. Oxidative damage was evident by a significant increased in the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H_2O-2), lipid hydroperoxide (L1RHY) and conjugated dienes (CONJ.D1) in brain and heart tissue of rats exposed to ringing mobile phone for 1/4, 1/2 1 hr/day for 2-weeks when compared to the control group. While, a significant decreased in the activities of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in brain and heart when compared to the control group. No significant changes in the levels of serum cholesterol (Choi.), triglycerides (T.G.), high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phospho kinase (CPK) and blood indices in rats exposed to mobile phone for 1/4, 1/2 and 1 hr/day for 2-weeks when compared to the control group. A histopathological degeneratine changes were observed in brain and heart. These changes were prevented by Vit C and E treatment. Furthermore Vit. C and E prevented the mobile phone induced cell injury in brain and heart tissues. In conclusion, our results may indicate a probable role of ROS in the adverse effect of EMR from mobile phone. The protection effect of Vit. C and E on EMR induced oxidative damage was associated with the decrease in oxidative stress and the preservation of brain and heart tissue from damage.