Effects of 3.5 GHz (5G) Radiofrequency Radiation on Ghrelin, Nesfatin-1, and Irisin Levels in Diabetic and Healthy Brains.

Diabetes, mobile phone use, and obesity have increased simultaneously in recent years. The radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted from mobile phones is largely absorbed in the heads of users. With 5G, which has started to be used in some countries without the necessary precautions being taken, the amount of RFR to which living things are exposed will increase. In this study, the changes in energy homeostasis and redox balance caused by 5G (3.5GHz, GSM-modulated) were explored. The effects of RFR on the brains of diabetic and healthy rats were investigated and histopathological analysis was performed. Twenty-eight Wistar albino rats weighing 200-250g were divided into 4 groups as sham, RFR, diabetes, and RFR+diabetes groups (n=7). The rats in each group were kept in a plexiglass carousel for 2hours a day for 30 days. While the rats in the experimental groups were exposed to RFR for 2hours a day, the rats in the sham group were kept under the same experimental conditions but with the radiofrequency generator turned off. At the end of the experiment, brain tissues were collected from euthanized rats. Total antioxidant (TAS), total oxidant (TOS), hydrogen peroxide (HO), ghrelin, nesfatin-1, and irisin levels were determined. In addition, histopathological analyses of the brain tissues were performed. The specific absorption rate in the grey matter of the brain was calculated as 323mW/kg and 195mW/kg for 1g and 10g averaging, respectively. After RFR exposure among diabetic and healthy rats, decreased TAS levels and increased TOS and HO levels were observed in brain tissues. RFR caused increases in ghrelin and irisin and a decrease in nesfatin-1 in the brain. It was also observed that RFR increased the number of degenerated neurons in the hippocampus. Our results indicate that 5G RFR causes changes in the energy metabolism and appetite of both healthy and diabetic rats. Thus, 5G may not be innocent in terms of its biological effects, especially in the presence of diabetes.