Behavioral and physiological effects of chronic 2,450-MHz microwave irradiation of the rat at 0.5 mW/cm2

Adult male Long-Evans rats were intermittently exposed to 2450 MHz CW microwaves at an average power density of 0.5 mW/cm2 for 90 days. The resulting SAR was 0.14 W/kg (range 0.11 to 0.18 W/kg). The animals were exposed 7 h/day, 7 days/wk, for a total of 630 h in a monopole-above-ground radiation chamber while housed in Plexiglas holding cages. Daily measures of body mass and food and water intake indicated no statistically significant effects of microwave exposure. Monthly assessment of reactivity to electric footshock, levels of cholinesterase and sulfhydryl groups in blood, and 17-ketosteroids in urine revealed no reliable differences between 14 sham-exposed and 14 microwave-exposed rats. After the 90 days of exposure, seven rats, randomly chosen from each group, were assessed for open-field behavior, shuttlebox performance, and schedule-controlled (IRT schedule) lever pressing for food pellets. Statistically significant differences between microwave-exposed and sham-exposed rats were observed in shuttlebox performances and lever pressing. Post mortem measures of mass of several organs and microscopic examination of adrenal tissue revealed no differences between the two groups of animals.     

Behavioral effects of chronic exposure to 0.5 mW/cm2 of 2,450-MHz microwaves

Adult male, Long-Evans rats were exposed 7 h a day for 90 days to continuous wave (CW) 2,450-MHz microwaves at an average power density of 0.5 mW/cm2. Exposures were in a monopole-above-ground radiation chamber with rats in Plexiglas cages. The resulting specific absorption rate (SAR) was 0.14 W/kg (+/- 0.01 SEM). Additional rats served as sham-exposed and home-caged controls. All were evaluated daily for body mass and food and water intakes. Once each 30 days, throughout baseline and exposure phases of the experiment, rats in the sham- and microwave-exposed groups were tested for their sensitivity to footshock. After 90-days of exposure, the rats were evaluated an open field, an active avoidance task and an operant task for food reinforcement. Performance of sham- and microwave-irradiated rats was reliably different on only one measure, the lever-pressing task. The general conclusion reached was that exposure to CW 2,450-MHz microwave radiation at 0.5 mW/cm2 was below the threshold for behavioral effects over a wide range of variables, but did have an effect on a time-related operant task, although the direction of the effect was unpredictable.     

Effects of 900 MHz GSM wireless communication signals on DMBA-induced mammary tumors in rats

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether exposure to 900 MHz GSM wireless communication signals enhances mammary tumor development and growth induced by low-dose DMBA. Five hundred female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a single dose of 35 mg/kg DMBA and then divided into five groups in a blinded fashion: one cage control group and four exposure groups, including three microwave exposure groups and one sham exposure with specific absorption rates (SARs) of 4.0, 1.33, 0.44 and 0 W/kg, respectively. Exposure started on the day after DMBA administration and lasted 4 h/day, 5 days/week for 26 weeks. Rats were weighed and palpated weekly for the presence of tumors and were killed humanely at the end of the 26-week exposure period. All mammary glands were examined histologically. There were no statistically significant differences in body weight between sham- and GSM microwave-exposed groups. No significant differences in overall mammary tumor incidence, latency to tumor onset, tumor multiplicity, or tumor size were observed between microwave- and sham-exposed groups. There was a tendency for reduction of mammary adenocarcinoma incidence in the lowest microwave exposure group (0.44 W/ kg) compared with the sham-exposed group (P = 0.058). Additionally, a higher incidence of adenocarcinoma was noticed in the 4.0 W/kg group from the 15th to 26th weeks, especially in the 19th week (P = 0.358 compared to sham). However, neither tendency was statistically significant; thus this study does not provide evidence that GSM microwave exposure promotes mammary tumor development in rats. In the present study there were significant differences between the cage controls and the experimental groups (sham and exposure). Body weight and mammary tumor (malignant plus benign) incidence in the cage control group were significantly higher than in the sham- and GSM microwave-exposed groups. The latency to the mammary tumor onset was significantly shorter in the cage control group than in the other groups.     

Carcinogenicity test of 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic fields in rats

Male and female F344 rats, 48 per exposure group, were sham exposed (Group A) or exposed to 0.5 (Group B) and 5 mT (Group C) magnetic fields for two years. Animals were exposed from 5–109 weeks of age in SPF conditions according to the OECD test guideline No. 451. Average exposure was 22.6 hr/day. No significant differences in body weight and food consumption were observed between the sham and exposed groups. At the end of the exposure period, survival rates of the male rats were 73, 83, and 79%, and those of the females, 77, 79, and 75% for Groups A, B, and C, respectively, with no significant differences between groups. Differential counts of leukocytes were measured at the 52nd, 78th, and 104th weeks of exposure and no significant differences were observed between the exposure groups. All survivors were euthanized on schedule, and all the organs and tissues suspected of tumoral lesions were examined histopathologically. Incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia in the male and the female rats were 5, 4, 4 and 8, 6, 7 for Groups A, B and C, respectively; incidences of malignant lymphoma in the female rats were 0, 1 and 1. Neither significant increases nor acceleration of incidence of leukemia were observed. Incidences of brain and intracranial tumors did not increase in the exposed groups. Incidences of both benign and malignant neoplasms showed no significant difference between the exposed and sham exposed groups with one exception: fibroma of the subcutis in the male rats, which was considered not to be a statistically significant when evaluated with respect to the historical control data in our laboratory. Bioelectromagnetics 18:531–540, 1997. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The risk of lymphoma in AKR/J mice does not rise with chronic exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields (1 microT and 100 microT)

Some epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to 50 or 60 Hz magnetic fields might increase the risk of leukemia, especially in children with a comparable high residential exposure. To investigate this possibility experimentally, the influence of 50 Hz magnetic-field exposure on lymphoma induction was determined in a mouse strain that is genetically predisposed to this disease. The AKR/J mouse genome carries the AK virus, which leads within 1 year to spontaneous development of thymic lymphoblastic lymphoma. Beginning at an age of 4-5 weeks, groups of 160 female mice were sham-exposed or exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 1 or 100 microT for 24 h per day, 7 days per week, for 38 weeks. Animals were checked visually daily and were weighed and palpated weekly. There was no effect of magnetic-field exposure on body weight gain or survival rate, and lymphoma incidence did not differ between exposed and sham-exposed animals. Therefore, these data do not support the hypothesis that chronic exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields is a significant risk factor for developing hematopoietic malignancy.     

Circularly polarized,sinusoidal, 50 Hz magnetic field exposure does not influence plasma testosterone levels of rats

We exposed rats to circularly polarized 50 Hz magnetic fields to determine if plasma testosterone concentration was affected. Previous experiments indicate that magnetic fields suppress the nighttime rise in melatonin, suggesting that other neuroendocrine changes might occur as well. Male Wistar-King rats were exposed almost continuously for 6 weeks to magnetic flux densities of 1,5, or 50 μT. Blood samples were obtained by decapitation at 12:00 h and 24:00 h. Plasma testosterone concentration showed a significant day-night difference, with a higher level at 12:00 h when studied in July and December, but the day-night difference disappeared when concentrations were studied in April. In three experiments, magnetic field exposure had no statistically significant effect on plasma testosterone levels compared with the sham-exposed groups. These findings indicate that 6 weeks of nearly continuous exposure to circularly polarized, 50 Hz magnetic fields did not change plasma testosterone concentration in rats. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effects of 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields on the development of the rat cerebellum

The effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic (EM) fields on the maturation of the rat cerebellum were studied. Newborn rats were exposed to 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields under three different combinations in a specially constructed apparatus. The pups were irradiated for 7–8 h daily, with a 30-min interruption for nursing. Pups were kept with their mothers for the remainder of the time. After approximately 1, 2, or 3 weeks of exposure, the pups were killed. Control pups were sham exposed. The somatic growth of the irradiated rats did not show any significant difference from shamexposed controls. At 1 kV/m and 10 gauss exposure, there was a small but statistically significant decrease in cerebellar mass. In rats exposed at 1 kV/m and 10 gauss, DNA and RNA levels were significantly higher than those in shara-exposed controls at 6 and 13 days of age, but at 20 days, these two biochemical constituents were similar in both groups of rats. The ELF-EM treatment had no effect on protein and cerebroside concentrations. In terms of age effects. DNA and RNA exhibited increases from 6 to 13 days of age, and declined from 13 to 20 days. Protein and cerebroside levels exhibited increases during the 6–20 day periods. In rats exposed at 100 kV/m and 1 gauss, the DNA levels were initially less than those of sham-exposed controls at 8 days of age, reached approximately the same levels at 14 days, and then were higher than those of controls at 22 days. There was. therefore, a significant ELF-EM effect as well as a significant interaction between age and ELF-EM exposure. In terms of age effects, DNA levels for both control and exposed animals increased from 8 to 14 days. From 14 to 22 days, DNA levels of exposed rats continued to increase while those of the controls decreased. This age effect was significant. RNA levels in both groups of animals showed increases from 8 to 14 days of age, but the increase was less for the irradiated animals than for the controls. From days 14 to 22. RNA levels for both groups showed a reduction, but the decrease was greater in the irradiated than in control rats. ELF-EM treatment significantly reduced protein levels at 8 days of age. but at 14 to 22 days, protein levels of exposed rats were higher than those of controls. The cerebroside levels were not affected by exposure treatments but increased with the age of the animals. Exposure to 100 kV/m and 10 gauss did not exert any effect on the concentrations of DNA, RNA, protein, and cerebroside at all three time points examined. Both DNA and RNA exhibited increases with age from 6 to 13 days, and leveled off from 13 to 20 days. Protein and cerebroside levels also showed corresponding increases with the age of the animals. Morphological observations revealed no detectable changes in the irradiated animals in any experimental group. Thus, only biochemical studies indicate that exposure at certain ELF-EM field combinations induces alterations in cerebellar maturation. These changes were clearly detectable in the early postnatal period but gradually diminished with time. ©1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Electromagnetic fields from mobile phones do not affect the inner auditory system of Sprague-Dawley rats

The auditory system is the first biological structure facing the electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cochlear functionality of Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to electromagnetic fields at the typical frequencies of GSM mobile phones (900 and 1800 MHz) by distortion product otoacoustic emissions, which are a well-known indicator of the status of the cochlea's outer hair cells. A population of 48 rats was divided into exposed and sham-exposed groups. Three sets of four loop antennas, one for sham-exposed animals and two for exposed animals, were used for the local exposures. Rats were exposed 2 h/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks at a local SAR of 2 W/kg in the ear. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions tests were carried out before, during and after the exposure. The analysis of the data shows no statistically significant differences between the audiological signals recorded for the different groups.     

Failure to produce taste-aversion learning in rats exposed to static electric fields and air ions

Taste-aversion (TA) learning was measured to determine whether exposure to high-voltage direct current (HVdc) static electric fields can produce TA learning in male Long Evans rats. Fifty-six rats were randomly distributed into four groups of 14 rats each. All rats were placed on a 20 min/day drinking schedule for 12 consecutive days prior to receiving five conditioning trials. During the conditioning trials, access to 0.1 % sodium saccharin-flavored water was given for 20 min, followed 30 min later by one of four treatments. Two groups of 14 rats each were individually exposed to static electric fields and air ions, one group to +75 kV/m (+2 × 10⁵ air ions/cm³) and the other group to ?75 kV/m (-2 × 10⁵ air ions/cm³). Two other groups of 14 rats each served as sham-exposed controls, with the following variation in one of the sham-exposed groups: This group was subdivided into two subsets of seven rats each, so that a positive control group could be included to validate the experimental design. The positive control group (n = 7) was injected with cyclophosphamide 25 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min after access to saccharin-flavored water on conditioning days, whereas the other subset of seven rats was similarly injected with an equivalent volume of saline. Access to saccharin-flavored water on conditioning days was followed by the treatments described above and was alternated daily with water “recovery” sessions in which the rats received access to water for 20 min in the home cage without further treatment. Following the last water-recovery session, a 20 min, two-bottle preference test (between water and saccharin-flavored water) was administered to each group. The positive control group did show TA learning, thus validating the experimental protocol. No saccharin-flavored water was consumed in the two-bottle preference test by the cyclophosphamide-injected, sham-exposed group compared to 74% consumed by the saline-injected sham-exposed controls (P <.0001). Saccharin-preference data for the static field-exposed groups showed no TA learning compared to data for sham-exposed controls. In summary, exposure to intense static electric fields and air ions did not produce TA learning as assessed by this particular design. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cardiovascular response of rats exposed to 60-Hz electric fields

Recently, it has been reported that exposure to high-strength electric fields can influence electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns, heart rates, and blood pressures in various species of animals. Our studies were designed to evaluate these reported effects and to help clarify some of the disagreement present in the literature. Various cardiovascular variables were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed or sham-exposed to 60-Hz electric fields at 80 or 100 kV/m for periods up to four months. No significant differences in heart rates, ECG patterns, blood pressures, or vascular reactivity were observed between exposed and sham-exposed rats after 8 hours, 40 hours, 1 month, or 4 months of exposure. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements, made during exposure to a 100-kV/m electric field for one hour, revealed no significant differences between exposed and sham-exposed groups. In addition, physiologic reserve capacity, measured in rats subjected to low temperature after exposure to 100 kV/m for one month, showed that electric-field exposure had no significant effect on physiological response to cold stress. Our studies cannot be directly compared to the work of other investigators because of differences in animal species and electric-field characteristics. However, our failure to detect any cardiovascular changes may have been the result of 1) eliminating secondary field effects such as shocks, audible noise, corona, and ozone; 2) minimizing steady-state microcurrents between the mouth of the animal and watering devices; and 3) minimizing electric-field-induced vibration of the electrodes and animal cages.     

Effects of microwave exposure on the hamster immune system. II. Peritoneal macrophage function

Acute exposure to hamsters to microwave energy (2.45 GHz; 25 mW/cm2 for 60 min) resulted in activation of peritoneal macrophages that were significantly more viricidal to vaccinia virus as compared to sham-exposed or normal (minimum-handling) controls. Macrophages from microwave-exposed hamsters became activated as early as 6 h after exposure and remained activated for up to 12 days. The activation of macrophages by microwave exposure paralleled the macrophage activation after vaccinia virus immunization. Activated macrophages from vaccinia-immunized hamsters did not differ in their viricidal activity when the hamsters were microwave- or sham-exposed. Exposure for 60 min at 15 mW/cm2 did not activate the macrophages while 40 mW/cm2 exposure was harmful to some hamsters. Average maximum core temperatures in the exposed (25 mW/cm2) and sham groups were 40.5 degrees C (+/- 0.35 SD) and 38.4 degrees C (+/- 0.5 SD), respectively. In vitro heating of macrophages to 40.5 degrees C was not as effective as in vivo microwave exposure in activating macrophages to the viricidal state. Macrophages from normal, sham-exposed, and microwave-exposed hamsters were not morphologically different, and they all phagocytosed India ink particles. Moreover, immune macrophage cytotoxicity for virus-infected or noninfected target cells was not suppressed in the microwave-irradiated group (25 mW/cm2, 1 h) as compared to sham-exposed controls, indicating that peritoneal macrophages were not functionally suppressed or injured by microwave hyperthermia.     

The relationship of decreased serum thyrotropin and increased colonic temperature in rats exposed to microwaves

Although decreased serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentration has been found to be part of the endocrine response pattern in rats exposed to microwaves and other stimuli, the response of individual endocrine organs was not activated simultaneously by a given irradiance. Therefore, analytical evaluation of the function of endocrine organs individually as well as collectively is required to characterize the extent of biological involvement in microwave exposure. We have studied the changes in TSH concentration in unanesthetized rats exposed to 2.45 GHz amplitude modulated (120 Hz) microwaves in the far field for 2 and 4 h, between 0 and 55 mW/cm2, and from 1 to 10 times to demonstrate any possible cumulation, acclimation, or sensitization process. Ether inhalation was administered to test the responsiveness of TSH in groups of rats that failed to respond to microwave exposure by lowering TSH concentration. In addition, groups of rats were sampled 24 h after microwave exposure to test the persistency of the microwave effect on serum TSH concentration. Results showed that TSH concentration decreased in rats after microwave exposure. Influence of microwave exposure on serum TSH concentration was independent of the number of exposures indicating absence of cumulation, acclimation, or sensitization. The microwave effect on serum TSH could be dependent on duration of exposure. Decreased TSH concentration was usually accompanied by increased colonic temperature. For 4-h exposure, the lowest irradiance was 20 mW/cm2 or a 0.3 degree C increase in colonic temperature independent of the number of exposures. For 2-h exposure, the lowest irradiance was 30 mW/cm2 or a 1.1 degree C increase in colonic temperature regardless of the number of exposures. All the rats exposed at 10 mW/cm2 for 2 h had a lower TSH concentration than those of sham-exposed rats. Occasionally, significant reduction in TSH concentration could not be found in rats exposed to 20 or 25 mW/cm2 for 2 h. None of the rats exposed at an irradiance lower than 10 mW/cm2 had any change in TSH concentration. Failure of change in TSH concentration in response to microwave exposure was not a reflection of a deficiency since these rats responded to ether inhalation by lowering their TSH concentration. The effect of microwave exposure on TSH concentration was not persistent after exposure. The relation between TSH concentration and colonic temperature was curvilinear (exponential). From these results, two mechanisms and their implications for man were discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Interaction of Microwaves and a Temporally Incoherent Magnetic Field on Single and Double DNA Strand Breaks in Rat Brain Cells

The effect of a temporally incoherent magnetic field noise on microwave-induced DNA single and double strand breaks in rat brain cells was investigated. Four treatment groups of rats were studied: microwave-exposure (continuous-wave 2450-MHz microwaves, power density 1 mW/cm², average whole-body specific absorption rate of 0.6 W/kg), noise-exposure (45 mG), microwave + noise-exposure, and sham-exposure. Animals were exposed to these conditions for 2h. DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells of these animals were assayed 4h later using a microgel electrophoresis assay. Results show that brain cells of microwave-exposed rats had significantly higher levels of DNA single- and double-strand breaks when compared with sham-exposed animals. Exposure to noise alone did not significantly affect the levels (i.e., they were similar to those of the sham-exposed rats). However, simultaneous noise exposure blocked microwave-induced increases in DNA strand breaks. These data indicate that simultaneous exposure to a temporally incoherent magnetic field could block microwave-induced DNA damage in brain cells of the rat.     

Teratogenic effects of sinusoidal extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on morphology of 24 hr chick embryos

To examine the potential teratogenicity of electromagnetic fields (EMF; sinusoidal and rectangular) on development of chick embryos (white leghorn), 221 freshly fertilized chicken eggs (55-65 g) were exposed during first 24 hr of postlaying incubation (38 degrees +/- 0.5 degree C) to 24 different EMFs, with 50Hz repetition rate and 8.007-10.143 mT flux density. Following exposure, the exposed fertilized chicken eggs (n = 8-10) and sham-exposed fertilized chicken eggs (n = 15) were incubated simultaneously for 8 more days and unexposed control fertilized chicken eggs (n = 20) for 9 days in absence of EMFs. The embryos were removed from egg shells and studied blind. All 24 EMF exposed-groups (inside the coil with exposure) showed an increase in the percentage of developmental anomalies compared to sham-exposed (inside the coil with no exposure) and control groups (outside the coil). Further, egg's weight was evaluated on day 9. This variable did not show significant difference between control and exposed-groups. The investigation also covered the measurement of body weight, length of crown to rump, length of tip of the beak to occipital bone, heart and liver weight. Statistical comparison between sham-exposed and control values did not show significant differences, but comparison between 8.007, 8.453 and 8.713 mT exposed-groups and control groups showed significant differences; in other exposed-groups, the changes were not significant. These results revealed that 50 Hz electromagnetic fields can induce irreversible developmental alterations in 24 hr chick embryos and confirm that its strength could be a determinant factor for the embryonic response to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (window effects).     

Endocrinological effects of strong 60-Hz electric fields on rats

Adult male rats were exposed or sham-exposed to 60-Hz electric fields without spark discharges, ozone, or significant levels of other secondary variables. No effects were observed on body weights or plasma hormone levels after 30 days of exposure at an effective field strength of 68 kV/m. After 120 days of exposure (effective field strength = 64 kV/m), effects were inconsistent, with significant reductions in body weight and plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and corticosterone occurring in one replicate experiment but not in the other. Plasma testosterone levels were significantly reduced after 120 days of exposure in one experiment, with a similar but not statistically significant reduction in a replicate experiment. Weanling rats, exposed or sham-exposed in electric fields with an effective field strength of 80 kV/m from 20 to 56 days of age, exhibited identical or closely similar growth trends in body and organ weights. Hormone levels in exposed and sham-exposed groups were also similar. However, there was an apparent phase shift between the two groups in the cyclic variations of concentrations of hormones at different stages of development, particularly with respect to follicle-stimulating hormone and corticosterone. We concluded that 60-Hz electric fields may bring about subtle changes in the endocrine system of rats, and that these changes may be related to alterations in episodic rhythms.     

Rats avoid exposure to HVdc electric fields: A dose response study

Rats, given the choice, avoid exposure to alternating current (ac) 60-Hz electric fields at intensities ? 75 kV/m. This study investigated the generality of this behavior by studying the response of rats when exposed to high voltage direct current (HV dc) electric fields. Three hundred eighty male Long Evans rats were studied in 9 experiments with 40 rats per experiment and in one experiment with 20 rats to determine 1) if rats avoid exposure to HVdc electric fields of varying field strengths, and 2) if avoidance did occur, what role, if any, the concentration of air ions would have on the avoidance behavior. In all experiments a three-compartment glass shuttlebox was used; either the left or right compartment could be exposed to a combination of HVdc electric fields and air ions while the other compartment remained sham-exposed. The third, center compartment was a transition zone between exposure and sham-exposure. In each experiment, the rats were individually assessed in 1-h sessions where half of the rats (n = 20) had the choice to locomote between the two sides being exposed or sham-exposed, while the other half of the rats'(n = 20) were sham-exposed regardless of their location, except in one experiment where there was no sham-exposed group. The exposure levels for the first six experiments were 80, 55, 42.5, 30, ?36, and ?55 kV/m, respectively. The air ion concentration was constant at 1.4 × 10⁶ ions/cc for the four positive exposure levels and ?1.4 × 10⁶ ions/cc for the two negative exposure levels. Rats having a choice between exposure and non-exposure relative to always sham-exposed control animals significantly reduced the amount of time spent on the exposed side at 80kV/m (P < .002) as they did at both 55 and ?55 kV/m (P < .005). No significant differences between groups were observed at 42.5, 30, or -36 kV/m. To determine what role the air ion concentration might have had on the avoidance behavior at field strengths of 55 kV/m or greater, four additional experiments were conducted. The HVdc exposure level was held constant at either ?55 kV/m (for three experiments) or -55 kV/m (for 1 experiment) while the air ion concentration was varied between experiments at 2.5 × 10⁵ ions/cc, 1.0 × 10⁴ for two of the experiments and was below the measurement limit (< ± 2 × 10³ ions/cc) for the other two experiments at 55 and ?55 kV/m. The exposed rats significantly reduced the amount of time spent on the exposed side at 55 and ?55 kV/m, relative to the sham-exposed rats regardless of air ion concentration (all at P < .005). Thus, HVdc electric fields of ? + or ?55 kV/m are sufficient to produce avoidance behavior in rats. Positive or negative air ion concentrations were not significant factors in these avoidance outcomes. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Exposure of rats to a 50-Hz, 100 muTesla magnetic field does not affect the ex vivo production of interleukins by activated T or B lymphocytes.

Two separate, independent experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of exposure of rats to a 50-Hz linearly polarized, 100 microT magnetic field (MF) on the ex vivo production of interleukins (ILs) by mitogen-stimulated splenic lymphocytes. IL-1 and IL-2 were determined by proliferation assays, using IL-dependent murine T cell lines. In the first experiment, female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA] at a dose of 20 mg per rat (four weekly gavage doses of 5 mg), and were either MF-exposed or sham-exposed for 14 weeks. This experimental protocol has previously been shown to result in a significant increase in breast cancer growth in response to MF exposure. Furthermore, MF exposure at 50-100 microT for 3 months was recently found to induce a suppressed ex vivo proliferation of splenic T cells in response to mitogen stimulation, which could be a result of reduced IL production of spleen lymphocytes. However, the present experiments failed to demonstrate any significant difference between MF- and sham-exposed groups in production of IL-1 by mitogen-activated splenic B cells. In a second experiment, shorter MF exposure periods were studied with respect to IL production from mitogen-stimulated B and T cells. Groups of rats were MF- or sham-exposed for 1 day, 1 week, or 2 weeks, followed by preparation and activation of spleen lymphocytes. No significant difference in IL-1 or IL-2 production from stimulated B or T cells was seen. The data indicate that in vivo MF exposure of rats does not affect the ex vivo IL production of B or T lymphocytes, suggesting that the recently reported changes in T cell proliferation in response to MF exposure may not be mediated via alterations in B or T cell IL production.     

Biologic effects of prolonged exposure to ELF electromagnetic fields in rats. I. 50 Hz electric fields

A three-year investigation was conducted on the biological effects of high-intensity electric field exposures of rats for up to 18% of their life span. Two hundred and forty adult male rats, divided into groups of 20 animals each, were exposed at ground potential for 8 h/ day at 25-kV/m and 100-kV/m 50-Hz electric fields or were sham exposed for 280, 440, and 1240 h. The corresponding ages at sacrifice were 140, 164, and 315 days. An additional group of 40 rats was investigated under similar experimental conditions after 440 h of exposure at floating potential. Independent of exposure duration, mode of grounding, and field strength, no statistical differences in body weight, morphology, and histology of the liver, heart, mesenteric lymph nodes, and blood variables (hematology and serum chemistry) were found in comparison with sham-exposed animals. Plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone (TS)at sacrifice varied widely among experimental animals in the same group but did not differ in exposed compared with sham-exposed rats. A nonsignificant tendency toward a decrease in the testes/body weight ratio was found after 1240 h of exposure. Microscopic examination of a large number of specimens showed no quantitative or qualitative statistical differences in testes alterations either among exposed animals or between exposed and their corresponding sham-exposed groups. We conclude that 50-Hz electric field exposure, even of long duration at very high field strengths, does not induce harmful effects on tissues with high cellular turnover rates and does not impair the reproductive function of rats. Moreover, after exposure, all variables investigated were well within the normal physiological range. © 1993 Wiley-Liss. Inc.     

Lymphocyte subset analyses in blood, spleen and lymph nodes of female Sprague-Dawley rats after short or prolonged exposure to a 50 Hz 100-microT magnetic field.

Based primarily on the results of in vitro studies, it has been suggested that power-line (50 or 60 Hz) magnetic fields (MFs) may reduce immune function, which could lower resistance to infection or cancer. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of acute and chronic in vivo exposure to a linearly polarized 50 Hz MF on immune function in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Groups of rats were exposed continuously to the MF at a flux density of 100 microT for periods of 3 days, 14 days or 13 weeks. For each exposure period, one control group of rats was sham-exposed together with each MF-exposed group. Experimental end points included analyses of T-lymphocyte subsets as well as other immune cells involved in cell-mediated immune responses, i.e. natural killer (NK) cells, B lymphocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes in blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. In addition, immunohistochemical methods were used to detect proliferating and apoptotic cells in the various compartments of spleen tissue. The results obtained failed to demonstrate a significant effect of short or prolonged MF exposure on different types of leukocytes, including lymphocyte subsets. Furthermore, the experiments on the in vivo proliferation activity of lymphocytes and the extent of apoptosis in spleen samples did not indicate a difference between the MF-exposed and sham-exposed groups, indicating that MF exposure does not affect the mechanisms involved in the control of lymphocyte homeostasis. The lack of MF effects in the immune tests used in the present in vivo study makes it highly unlikely that MF exposure induces immunotoxicity, at least under the experimental conditions used. However, the data do not exclude the possibility that functional alterations in T-cell responses to mitogens and in NK cell activity as recently described for MF-exposed rodents may be one mechanism involved in the carcinogenic effects of MF exposure observed in some models of co-carcinogenesis.     

Long-term exposure of E-mu-Pim1 transgenic mice to 898.4 MHz microwaves does not increase lymphoma incidence

A total of 120 E mu-Pim1 heterozygous mice and 120 wild-type mice were exposed for 1 h/day 5 days/week at each of the four exposure levels in "Ferris-wheel" exposure systems for up to 104 weeks to GSM-modulated 898.4 MHz radiation at SARs of 0.25, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 W/kg. In addition, 120 heterozygous and 120 wild-type mice were sham-exposed; there was also an unrestrained negative control group. Four exposure levels were used to investigate whether a dose-response effect could be detected. Independent verification confirmed that the exposures in the current study were nonthermal. There was no significant difference in the incidence of lymphomas between exposed and sham-exposed groups at any of the exposure levels. A dose-response effect was not detected. The findings showed that long-term exposures of lymphoma-prone mice to 898.4 MHz GSM radiofrequency (RF) radiation at SARs of 0.25, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 W/kg had no significant effects when compared to sham-irradiated animals. A previous study (Repacholi et al., Radiat. Res. 147, 631-640, 1997) reported that long-term exposure of lymphoma-prone mice to one exposure level of 900 MHz RF radiation significantly increased the incidence of non-lymphoblastic lymphomas when compared to sham-irradiated animals.