• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Mutagenic response of 2.45 GHz radiation exposure on rat brain. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To investigate the effect of 2.45 GHz microwave exposure on developing rat brain (35 days old).
Background/further details:
Six rats were exposed and six rats were sham-exposed.

Endpoint

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (double strand breaks) in the brain

Exposure
General category: microwaves, 2.45 GHz

Field characteristics	Parameters
2.45 GHz exposure duration: continuous for 2 hr/day on 35 days	power: 1080 W (input power) power: 700 W (output power) power flux density: 0.34 mW/cm² SAR: 0.11 W/kg (whole body)

Exposed system:
animal (species/strain): rat/Wistar
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (double strand breaks; comet assay)
• cell function: antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase; spectrophotometry) and enzyme activity of histone kinase (a cell-regulatory molecule closely related to G2 phase/mitosis cell cycle transition; scintillation counting)
• effects on the neurological system: DNA damage (see "genotoxicity") and different enzyme activities (see "cell function")

Main outcome of study (according to author)
A significant increase was observed in different parameters of comet assay (e.g. comet head length, tail length) in exposed brain cells. An analysis of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase showed a decrease in enzyme activities under exposure while an increase in catalase enzyme activity was found. A significant decrease in histone kinase enzyme activity was also recorded in the exposed group as compared to the sham exposed ones.
The authors conclude that the chronic exposure to 2.45 GHz microwaves may cause a significant damage to the brain, which may be an indication of possible tumour promotion.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study, double-blind study)

Study funded by

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India

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