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Effects of microwave exposure and temperature on survival of mice infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae
Author(s) -
Liddle C. G.,
Putnam J. P.,
Lewter O. H.
Publication year - 1987
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.2250080308
Subject(s) - hyperthermia , microwave , zoology , streptococcus pneumoniae , chemistry , biology , materials science , medicine , biochemistry , antibiotics , physics , quantum mechanics
Female CD‐1 mice were injected with an LD 50 dose of Streptococcus pneumoniae and then exposed to 2.45 GHz (CW) microwave radiation at an incident power density of 10 mW/cm 2 (SAR = 6.8 W/kg), 4 h/d for 5 d at ambient temperatures of 19 °C, 22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C, 31 °C, 34 °C, 37 °C and 40 °C. Four groups of 25 animals were exposed at each temperature with an equal number of animals concurrently sham‐exposed. Survival was observed for a 10‐d period after infection. Survival of the sham‐exposed animals increased as ambient temperature increased from 19 °C–34 °C. At ambient temperatures at or above 37 °C the heat induced in the body exceeded the thermoregulatory capacity of the animals and deaths from hyperthermia occurred. Survival of the microwave‐exposed animals was significantly greater than the shams (∼20%) at each ambient temperature below 34 °C. Based on an analysis of the data it appears that the hyperthermia induced by microwave exposure may be more effective in increasing survival in infected mice than hyperthermia produced by conventional methods (ie, high ambient temperature). Microwave radiation may be beneficial to infected animals at low and moderate ambient temperatures, but it is detrimental when combined with high ambient temperatures.