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 neurons in some parts of the brain. It was also shown that caffeine protects the nerve cells. This study examines if caffeine has any effects on 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 rats that were exposed to EMF were fed 1 mg/L caffeinated water instead of tap water. The rats in the sham group were put inside the exposure chamber but were not exposed to EMF. The changes in the hippocampal and cerebellar neuron numbers were examined with stereological histological methods. EMF application caused a significant decrease in the number of the cerebellar Purkinje neurons and the hippocampal pyramidal neurons. In the group that received caffeine with EMF exposure, the decrease in neuron number was prevented in both the hippocampus and the cerebellum. The results show that caffeine protects the cerebellum and the hippocampus from neural damage induced by EMF exposure.