Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Pathophysiology of microwave radiation: effect on rat brain med./bio.

By: Kesari KK, Kumar S, Behari J

Published in: Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2012; 166 (2): 379-388

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effect of 2.45 GHz microwave exposure on the brain of rats.

Background/further details

Six animals were exposed and six animals were sham exposed.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: brain metabolism (melatonin, creatine kinase activity, caspase-3 activity, calcium ion concentration)

Exposure

- 2.45 GHz
- 2.45 GHz
- microwaves
- microw. oven/heating device

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz Exposure duration: continuous for 2 h/day on 45 days	power: 700 W (output power) power density: 0.21 mW/cm² SAR: 0.14 W/kg

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	2.45 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Charakteristic	far field
Exposure duration	continuous for 2 h/day on 45 days

Modulation

Modulation type	cf. additional info
Additional info	modulation frequency: 50 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	horn antenna anechoic chamber microwave oven
Setup	anechoic chamber lined on the inside with radar absorbing material; Plexiglas cage, ventilated with 1 cm diameter holes, housing 6 rats, placed in the chamber; horn antenna positioned inside the chamber above the cage; all animals facing the antenna; microwave oven connected to the horn antenna
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	700 W	-	measured	-	output power
power density	0.21 mW/cm²	-	-	-	-
SAR	0.14 W/kg	-	estimated	whole body	-

Reference articles

Kumar S et al. (2011): The therapeutic effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field on the reproductive patterns of male Wistar rats exposed to a 2.45-GHz microwave field
Kesari KK et al. (2010): Mutagenic response of 2.45 GHz radiation exposure on rat brain
Paulraj R et al. (2006): Single strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells exposed to microwave radiation

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: brain metabolism: melatonin concentration in the pineal gland (commercial ELISA kit; spectrophotometry), creatine kinase enzyme activity (ELISA, colorimetry), caspase-3 enzyme activity (colorimetry), calcium ion concentraion (atomic absorption spectrophotometry)

Investigated system:

brain homogenates and supernatants

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

A significant decrease was recorded in the level of pineal melatonin in the exposed group compared with the sham exposed group. A significant increase in creatine kinase enzyme activity, caspase 3 activity, and calcium ion concentration was found in whole brain samples of exposed animals compared with those of sham exposed animals.
The authors conclude that a decrease in melatonin or an increase in caspase-3 activity, creatine kinase activity, and calcium ion may cause a significant damage in brain due to chronic exposure.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India

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