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Hematologic and immunologic effects of pulsed microwaves in mice
Author(s) -
Ragan H. A.,
Phillips R. D.,
Buschbom R. L.,
Busch R. H.,
Morris J. E.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.2250040409
Subject(s) - bone marrow , globulin , albumin , chemistry , platelet , medicine , granulocyte , endocrinology , immunology , andrology
Mice were exposed in the far field in an anechoic chamber to 2,880‐MHz pulsed microwaves 3 to 7.5 h daily, 5 days/week for 60 to 360 h. Three experiments were performed at average power densities of 5 mW/cm 2 and six at 10 mW/cm 2 , corresponding to averaged specific absorption rates (SARs) of 2.25 and 4.50 mW/g, respectively. Each experiment consisted of eight mice, with a concurrently sham‐exposed group of eight. In two of three studies at 5 mW/cm 2 , there was a significant increase in bone marrow cellularity in the microwave‐exposed groups compared to the sham‐exposed groups. Significant differences were occasionally seen in erythrocyte, leukocyte, and platelet values from microwaveexposed groups, but were not consistently observed. In one of six groups exposed at 10 mW/cm 2 , mean bone marrow cellularity was reduced significantly in the microwaveexposed mice; in another group, the lymphocyte count was increased. In only one exposure (10 mW/cm 2 for 360 h) was any significant effect noted on serum proteins: a reduction to 5.1 ± 0.3 g/dl in the exposed versus 5.6 ± 0.4 g/dl in the sham‐exposed mice. This was due to a decrease in alpha and beta globulins, with no effect on albumin or gamma globulin concentrations. No effect on bone marrow granulocyte/macrophage colony‐forming units (CFU) was revealed following exposure of mice to pulsed microwaves at 5 mW/cm 2 . In one of four exposures at 10 mW/cm 2 , there was a significant increase in CFU‐agar colonies. No significant effects of exposures at 10 mW/cm 2 were observed on in vivo and in vitro assays of cell‐mediated immune functions. No exposure‐related histopathologic lesions were found from examination of several tissues and organs. Results of these series of exposures of mice at SARs of 2.25 and 4.50 mW/g indicated no consistent effects on the hematologic, immunologic, or histopathologic variables examined.