Effect Of Wifi Signal Exposure In Utero And Early Life On Neurodevelopment And Behaviors Of Rats

Objectives: To examine the long-term effects of prenatal and early life WIFI signal exposure on neurodevelopment and behaviors as well as biochemical alterations of Wista rats. Methods: : On the first day of pregnancy (E0), expectant rats were allocated into two groups: the control group (n=12) and the WiFi-exposed group (WiFi group, n=12). WiFi group was exposed to turn on WiFi for 24h/day from E0 to postnatal day (PND) 42. The control group was exposed to turn off WiFi at the same time. On PND7-42, we evaluated the development and behavior of the offspring, including body weight, pain threshold, and swimming ability, spatial learning and memory among others. Also, levels of proteins involved in apoptosis were analyzed histologically in the hippocampus in response to oxidative stress. Results: : The results showed that WiFi signal exposure in utero and early life (1) increased the body weight of WiFi+M group, (2) no change in neuro-behavioral development were observed in WiFi group, (3) increased learning and memory function in WiFi+M group, (4) enhanced comparative levels of BDNF and p-CREB proteins in the hippocampus of WiFi+M group. Significance: Prenatal WiFi exposure has no effects on hippocampal CA1 neurons, oxidative equilibrium in brain and neurodevelopment of rats. Some effects of prenatal WiFi exposure are sex-dependent. Prenatal WiFi exposure increased the body weight, improved the spatial memory and learning function and induced behavioral hyperactivity of male rats.