Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Microwave radiation (2.45 GHz)-induced oxidative stress: Whole-body exposure effect on histopathology of Wistar rats med./bio.

By: Chauhan P, Verma HN, Sisodia R, Kesari KK

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2017; 36 (1): 20-30

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of rats to a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field on histological changes and oxidative stress in some organs should be investigated.

Background/further details

Sixty-day-old male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups (n=4, respectively): exposure and sham exposure. In each group, 2 animals were exposed in the morning and 2 animals were exposed in the afternoon on each exposure day.
Experiments were repeated thrice.

Endpoint

morphol./histopathol. changes: histological changes in some organs
oxidative stress in some organs

Exposure

- 2.45 GHz
- microwaves

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz Modulation type: FM Exposure duration: 2 h per day for 35 days	power density: 0.2 mW/cm² unspecified SAR: 0.14 W/kg unspecified (whole body)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	2.45 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Polarization	linear
Exposure duration	2 h per day for 35 days
Additional info	vertical polarization

Modulation

Modulation type	FM
Modulation frequency	50 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	horn antenna anechoic chamber
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	10 cm
Chamber	plexiglass cages (200 × 50 × 60 mm³) with fixed holes (2 mm diameter) in anechoic chamber lined with radar absorbing material (attenuation 40 db); temperature in the chamber was maintained around 25–27°C
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	microwave oven generated signal, which was sent to the horn antenna; 2 animals were lightly restrained in cages so that they were were facing the antenna; the field relative to the long axis of the cages had vertical polarization; each day, the cage was placed in the same position; microwave generator and exposure cage were placed about a meter apart

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	0.2 mW/cm²	unspecified	measured	-	-
SAR	0.14 W/kg	unspecified	estimated	whole body	-

Reference articles

Meena R et al. (2014): Therapeutic approaches of melatonin in microwave radiations-induced oxidative stress-mediated toxicity on male fertility pattern of Wistar rats
Kesari KK et al. (2010): Mutagenic response of 2.45 GHz radiation exposure on rat brain

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

morphol./histopathol. changes: histological changes in brain, liver, kidney, spleen and testes/epididymis (hematoxylin-eosin stain, light microscopy)
oxidative stress in brain, liver, kidney, spleen and testes/epididymis (reaction with thiobarbituric acid and trichloroacetic acid, spectrophotometry)

Investigated system:

tissue slices
isolated bio./chem. substance
tissue homogenates

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

All organs investigated, i.e. brain, liver, kidney, spleen, testes and epididymis, showed histological changes in all exposed animals compared to sham exposed animals with normal histological appearance.
Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in in the liver, brain and spleen of exposed animals compared to sham exposed animals.
The authors conclude that exposure of rats to a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field might induce histological changes and oxidative stress.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India

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