Effects of 2000 μW/cm2 electromagnetic radiation on expression of immunoreactive protein and mRNA of NR1 subunit of NMDA receptor in rat hippocampus

Objective To evaluate the effects of electromagnetic irradiation of 2000 μW/cm2 exposure on mRNA and protein expression levels of immunoreactive protein and mRNA of NMDAR1 in rats hippocampal,and to explore the impaired mechanism of electromagnetic irradiation on learning and memory.Methods Rats were randomly divided into normal control group, sham-radiated group, and 1 h/d, 2 h/d, and 3 h/d radiation groups.The rats in the radiation groups were fixed and recieved microwave exposure of 2000 μW/cm2, then their learning and memory abilities were tested by Morris water maze experiment, the change of NR1 protein in hippocampal neurons of each group of rats was measured with immunohistochmistry and western blot techniques, and the expression of NR1 mRNA in hippocampus was determined by RT-PCR.Results In the water maze test,compared with the normal control group (8.8 ± 1.66 ), the escape latency of three radiated groups rats ( 1 h/d ( 12.29 ±1.36) s,2 h/d ( 17.99 ±2.25) s,and 3 h/d (24.66 ±5.56) s) were significantly longer (P＜0.05).In the radiation group,the hippocampal neurons of rats showed evident reduction in the ratio of NR1 positive cells,irregular,and arrayed in disorder.Moreover,compared with the normal control group ( (0.70 ±0.11 ), (0.68 ±0.11 ) ) ,the expession of NR1 protein ( 1 h/d (0.122 ±0.026) ,2 h/d (0.102 ±0.023) ,and 3 h/d (0.060 ± 0.009) ) and its mRNA ( 1 h/d (0.46 ±0.07) ,2 h/d (0.35 ±0.05) ,and 3 h/d (0.12 ±0.02) ) in hippocampal neurons was significantly decreased (P＜0.05).Among the indicators, there was no significant difference between sham-radiated group and normal control group.Conclusions Electromagnetic irradiation of 2000 μW/cm2 exposure can impair the learning and memory abilities of rats possibly through a mechanism correlated with the lower expression of NR1 protein and its mRNA in hippocampus. Key words: Electromagnetic radiation;  Hippocampus;  Learning and memory;  NR1 subunit