Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Protective effects of beta-glucan against oxidative injury induced by 2.45-GHz electromagnetic radiation in the skin tissue of rats med./bio.

By: Ceyhan AM, Akkaya VB, Gulecol SC, Ceyhan BM, Ozguner F, Chen W

Published in: Arch Dermatol Res 2012; 304 (7): 521-527

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effect of 2.45 GHz electromagnetic irradiation on the oxidant and antioxidant status in the skin of rats and to examine the possible protective effects of beta-glucan against the oxidative damage.

Background/further details

32 male rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: 1) cage control, 2) sham exposed group, 3) exposure group and 4) exposure + beta-glucan treatment (50 mg/kg/day before each exposure).

Endpoint

oxidant and antioxidant status in the skin

Exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 60 min/day during 4 weeks	power: 2 W maximum electric field strength: 25 V/m average over mass electric field strength: 70 V/m maximum (at the animal's nose) SAR: 64 mW/kg average over mass SAR: 1 W/kg maximum (partial body)

General information

Rats were treated in the following four groups: i) cage control ii) sham exposure iii) EMF exposure iv) EMF exposure + treatment with β-glucan

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	2.45 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 60 min/day during 4 weeks

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	half-wave dipole antenna
Setup	rat placed in a 15 cm long PVC-cylinder with a diameter of 5 cm; 6 cylinders positioned radially on a round Plexiglas base plate so that the rats' noses were in close contact to the antenna which was placed in the center of the plate; cylinders ventilated; exposure system kept in a Faraday cage with a shielding effectiveness of 80 dB
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	maximum	-	-	-
electric field strength	25 V/m	average over mass	measured	-	-
electric field strength	70 V/m	maximum	measured	-	at the animal's nose
SAR	64 mW/kg	average over mass	calculated	-	-
SAR	1 W/kg	maximum	calculated	partial body	-

Reference articles

Naziroglu M et al. (2009): Modulator effects of L-carnitine and selenium on wireless devices (2.45 GHz)-induced oxidative stress and electroencephalography records in brain of rat

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar albino
partial body: head (nose)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

oxidant and antioxidant status in the skin (enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase (spectrophotometry); concentration of malondialdehyde (via thiobarbituric acid substances; spectrophotometry))

Investigated system:

tissue homogenates and supernatants

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Exposure to 2.45 GHz irradiation caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde levels and catalase enzyme activity, while the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase decreased, compared with the cage control or sham exposed group.
Beta-glucan administration significantly reversed the elevation of malondialdehyde levels and the reduction of superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. Beta-glucan treatment also slightly, but not statistically significantly enhanced the activity of catalase and prevented the decrease of glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity caused by electromagnetic field exposure.
The data demonstrated the role of oxidative mechanisms in electromagnetic field-induced skin tissue damages and that beta-glucan could ameliorate oxidative skin injury via its antioxidant properties.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Atasoy HI et al. (2013): Immunohistopathologic demonstration of deleterious effects on growing rat testes of radiofrequency waves emitted from conventional Wi-Fi devices
Alvarez N et al. (2008): The effects of radiofrequency on skin: Experimental study
Sanchez S et al. (2006): Effect of GSM-900 and -1800 signals on the skin of hairless rats. II: 12-week chronic exposures
Masuda H et al. (2006): Effect of GSM-900 and -1800 signals on the skin of hairless rats. I: 2-hour acute exposures
Sanchez S et al. (2006): Human skin cell stress response to GSM-900 mobile phone signals. In vitro study on isolated primary cells and reconstructed epidermis
Duranti G et al. (2005): In Vitro Evaluation of Biological Effects on Human Keratinocytes Exposed to 900 MHz Electromagnetic Field
Ayata A et al. (2004): Oxidative stress-mediated skin damage in an experimental mobile phone model can be prevented by melatonin
Özgüner F et al. (2004): Prevention of mobile phone induced skin tissue changes by melatonin in rat: an experimental study
Irmak MK et al. (2003): Effects of electromagnetic radiation from a cellular telephone on epidermal Merkel cells