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Effects of microwave exposure on the hamster immune system. IV. Spleen cell IgM hemolytic plaque formation
Author(s) -
Rao G. V. Rama,
Cain C. A.,
Tompkins W. A. F.
Publication year - 1985
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.2250060105
Subject(s) - spleen , immune system , hamster , virus quantification , immunization , chemistry , stimulation , antibody , antibody response , andrology , immunology , medicine , endocrinology , biology , virus
Microwave exposure has been reported to affect various components of the immune system. In this study, we examined the effect of a single whole‐body exposure of hamsters to microwave (mw) energy (2.45 GHz; 5–25 mW/cm 2 ; 1 h) on the IgM antibody (Ab) response of spleen cells to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). MW‐exposed, sham‐exposed, and cage‐control hamsters were immunized with SRBC and plaque‐forming cells (PFC) in spleens assayed using the direct hemolytic plaque assay. In cage‐control hamsters the Ab response was highest between days 4 and 5, returning to baseline by day 9. MW exposure (25 mW/cm 2 for 1 h) significantly augmented PFC response only on days 4 and 5 postimmunization, causing approximately a 4.3‐ and 3.5‐fold increase over controls, respectively. Exposure to 15 mW/cm2 caused a lesser, but significant increase in PFC. Exposure to intensities below 15 mW/cm 2 for 1 h did not produce any increase in Ab response. Immunization with different concentrations of SRBC following 1 h of 25 mW/cm 2 MW exposure revealed a stimulation in PFC at all concentrations ranging from 5 × 10 7 to 5 × 10 8 SRBC. Pretreatment of hamsters with MW radiation prior to immunization showed that the animals retained an increased sensitivity to SRBC for as long as 4 days after MW exposure. In contrast, exposure of hamsters to MW energy on different days after immunization showed an effect of the PFC response only if given between 0 and 1 day after immunization. These results suggest that MW exposure augments the primary IgM response to SRBC by affecting some early event in the immune response process. The various possible explanations for this phenomenon are discussed.