ID Number		1155
Study Type		In Vitro
Model		2.2 MHz (UMTS) exposure on permeability in a pig brain microvascular endothelial cell culture (PBEC - in vitro model of the BBB)
Details		Porcine brain microvascular endothelial cell cultures (PBEC) were exposed to 2 GHz (UMTS) at an SAR between 1.6 - 1.8 W/kg (identified as the maximum power that would not induce a temperature change of over 0.5 degrees C) for up to 84 hours and analyzed for permeability of 14-C-sucrose and serum albumin. Positive control for tight junctions included mannitol and non-RF heating to 45 degrees C. No effects of exposure were observed on tightness, permeability, or morphology of the BBB. No effects were observed on localization or integrity of the tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1. The authors conclude "it is likely that EMFs from mobile phones of the UMTS generation do not substantially harm the blood-brain barrier." Further studies report preliminary up- and down- regulation of several genes associated with rat brain endothelial cells by RF exposure at SARs of 0.4, 1, 3, or 8 W/kg. The largest effect occured at 3 W/kg, but there was no obvious dose response or consistency of de-regulated expression among the different dose levels.
Findings		No Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Munster, Germany
Funding Agency		FGF, Germany, BfS, Germany, DMF, Germany
Country		GERMANY
References		Franke, H et al. Radiation Research , (2005) 164:258-269 Franke, H et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (2005) 26:529-535
Comments		This study ~ addresses the initial in vitro BBB study of Schirmacher and Veyret (Bioelectromagnetics 2000, 21: 338-345) using a similar in vitro model, but using an 1800 MHz GSM exposure