Objective To investigate the effect of electromagnetic wave power density on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein ( GFAP) in the hippocampus of SD rats under 1 800 MHz electromagnetic wave irradiation, and whether it exhibits a “window effect”. Methods Ninety-eight 4-week-old SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into 14 groups, with 7 rats in each group. Seven groups were exposed groups (frequency:1 800MHz, power densities: 0.1 mW/cm², 0.3 mW/cm², 0.5 mW/cm², 0.7 mW/cm², 0.9 mW/cm², 1.0 mW/cm², 1.2 mW/cm²) and corresponding 7 groups were control groups (power density: 0 mW/cm²) . Exposure was conducted for 12 hours daily for 3 weeks. After exposure, Western Blot was used to detect the expression level of GFAP in the hippocampal tissue, and immunohistochemistry staining was performed to determine the average optical density (MOD) value of GFAP-positive expression products in the DG, CA3, and CA1 regions of the hippocampal tissue, to determine the power density window of GFAP expression in the hippocampus of SD rats under 1 800 MHz exposure. Results At power densities of 0.1 mW/cm² and 0.3 mW/cm², Western Blot results showed increased expression of GFAP in the rat hippocampus (P < 0.05), and immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated increased MOD values of GFAP in the three regions (P< 0.05). Conclusion Long-term exposure to 1 800 MHz electromagnetic radiation has a “window effect” on the expression of GFAP in the DG, CA3, and CA1 regions of the hippocampus in SD rats, with power density windows of 0.1 mW/cm² and 0.3 mW/cm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]