Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of 900-MHz Microwave Radiation on gamma-Ray-Induced Damage to Mouse Hematopoietic System med./bio.

By: Cao Y, Xu Q, Jin ZD, Zhang J, Lu MX, Nie JH, Tong J

Published in: J Toxicol Environ Health A 2010; 73 (7): 507-513

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of microwave exposure on hematopoietic damage induced by ionizing radiation.

Background/further details

In a previous study (Meng et al. 2007) it was shown that low-dose microwave exposure increased the survival rate of mice irradiated with 8-Gy gamma rays. However, the underlying mechanisms remained unknown.
96 mice were divided into four groups: 1) control group, 2) microwave exposure group, 3) gamma rays (5 Gy) exposure group, and 4) co-exposure group (microwave + gamma rays). Mice were sacrificed 3, 6, 9, or 12 days (six mice each day of each group) after the gamma ray exposure.

Endpoint

effects on the immune system: bone marrow and spleen morphology, bone marrow cell proliferation, serum GM-CSF and interleukin-3 level

Exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 1 h/day on 14 days	power density: 120 µW/cm²

General information

mice were treated in four groups: i) control ii) microwave irradiation iii) gamma-ray irradiation (5 Gy) on day 15 iv) microwave irradiation + gamma-ray irradiation on day 15

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 1 h/day on 14 days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	GTEM cell

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	120 µW/cm²	-	-	-	-

Exposed system:

animal
mouse/Kunming
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell viability/cell division/proliferation: bone marrow cell proliferation (colony forming units)
effects on the immune system: serum GM-CSF (granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and IL-3 level (ELISA)
morphol./histopathol. changes: bone marrow and spleen morphology (hematoxylin-eosin stain, light microscopy)

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture
tissue slices
serum

Investigated organ system:

immune system
sternum (bone marrow) and spleen

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that pre-exposure to low-dose microwaves attenuated hematopoietic injuries produced by subsequent gamma radiation. The protective effects of microwave exposure appeared to be related to 1) up-regulation of some hematopoietic growth factors, 2) stimulation of proliferation of the granulocyte-macrophages in bone marrow, and 3) antagonism of the gamma ray-induced inhibition of hematopoietic stem cells/hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, China
Jiangsu Key Project Foundation, China

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