Neuroanatomical Alterations in the Rat Auditory Cortex Induced by Fourth and Fifth Generation Wireless Radiation Exposure: A Laboratory-Based Experimental Study

Objective: To compare the effects of Fourth and Fifth Generation 2100 MHz and 3500 MHz) radiofrequencyelectromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) on cortical layer organization and granule cell necrosis in the auditorycortex of rats.Study Design: Laboratory-based experimental study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Anatomy Department, Islamic InternationalMedical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from November 2023 to October 2024.Methods: Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 per group).Group A served as the control with no RF-EMR exposure. Group B was exposed to 2100 MHz Fourth Generation(4G), and Group C to 3500 MHz Fifth Generation (5G) RF-EMR using an ADALM-PLUTO module. All exposureswere conducted for 5 hours daily over 4 weeks. Following exposure, the rats were sacrificed, and their auditorycortices were subjected to histological analysis using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. Cortical layer organizationand granule cell necrosis were evaluated. Necrosis was graded from 0 (no necrosis) to 4 (severe necrosis). Datawas analyzed using SPSS version 27, with a P-value ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.Results: All groups showed regular cortical layering with distinct borders. Granule cell necrosis was absent incontrols, minimal in 4G (Group B), and more severe in 5G (Group C), where 10% showed severe necrosis.Necrosis grades differed significantly among groups (P = 0.006), with 5G showing the highest neurotoxicity.Conclusion: Compared to 4 G exposure, 5G radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation results in significantgranule cell necrosis in the auditory cortex, suggesting that higher-frequency electromagnetic radiation mayinduce greater neurotoxic effects. These findings highlight the potential risks of prolonged exposure to 5Gradiation, particularly regarding neuronal integrity and brain health. How to cite this: Haroon A, Ali S, Umar U, Farooq S, Qureshi T, Fahad T. Neuroanatomical Alterations in the Rat Auditory Cortex Induced by Fourth and Fifth Generation Wireless Radiation Exposure: A Laboratory-Based Experimental Study. Life and Science. 2025; 6(2): 217-222. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.847