Effect of exposure to operant-controlled microwaves on certain blood and immunological parameters in the young chick.

Poultry science · 1991 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 6273

Study snapshot

PublicationPoultry science · 1991

Study typeanimal

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Twenty-two 1-wk-old broiler chicks (Gallus domesticus) were housed at 16 C and operantly conditioned to activate either a 250-W infrared bulb (control) or a microwave generator delivering 13 mW/cm2 (treated). Plasma corticosterone concentration did not differ between groups (P greater than .05) at 4 wk of age. At that time the birds were killed, and post-mortem examination revealed no treatment differences in gross morphology of the chicks or in weights of spleen and bursa of Fabricius (P greater than .05). Histological study of comparable segments of spleen, bursa, adrenal, and thyroid tissue did not show differences in any of the chosen parameters (P greater than .05). Heterophil:lymphocyte ratios, packed cell volume, and total plasma protein content were similar between groups (P greater than .05). These results suggest that operant exposure to low density microwave radiation did not result in stress or immunological disturbances.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionno_effect

Population1-wk-old broiler chicks (Gallus domesticus)

Sample size22

Exposuremicrowave · From 1 wk old to 4 wk of age (operant-controlled exposure; exact schedule not stated)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Chicks operantly conditioned to activate a microwave generator delivering 13 mW/cm2 showed no statistically significant differences versus infrared-bulb controls in plasma corticosterone at 4 weeks, organ weights (spleen, bursa), gross morphology, selected histological parameters (spleen, bursa, adrenal, thyroid), heterophil:lymphocyte ratios, packed cell volume, or total plasma protein (all P > .05).

Outcomes measured

Plasma corticosterone
Gross morphology (post-mortem)
Spleen weight
Bursa of Fabricius weight
Histology of spleen
Histology of bursa
Histology of adrenal
Histology of thyroid
Heterophil:lymphocyte ratio
Packed cell volume
Total plasma protein

Limitations

Microwave frequency not reported in abstract
Exposure duration/schedule not fully described (only age range and operant-controlled activation)
Small sample size (n=22)
Only selected blood/immunological and histological endpoints assessed

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "From 1 wk old to 4 wk of age (operant-controlled exposure; exact schedule not stated)"
  },
  "population": "1-wk-old broiler chicks (Gallus domesticus)",
  "sample_size": 22,
  "outcomes": [
    "Plasma corticosterone",
    "Gross morphology (post-mortem)",
    "Spleen weight",
    "Bursa of Fabricius weight",
    "Histology of spleen",
    "Histology of bursa",
    "Histology of adrenal",
    "Histology of thyroid",
    "Heterophil:lymphocyte ratio",
    "Packed cell volume",
    "Total plasma protein"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Chicks operantly conditioned to activate a microwave generator delivering 13 mW/cm2 showed no statistically significant differences versus infrared-bulb controls in plasma corticosterone at 4 weeks, organ weights (spleen, bursa), gross morphology, selected histological parameters (spleen, bursa, adrenal, thyroid), heterophil:lymphocyte ratios, packed cell volume, or total plasma protein (all P > .05).",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Microwave frequency not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure duration/schedule not fully described (only age range and operant-controlled activation)",
    "Small sample size (n=22)",
    "Only selected blood/immunological and histological endpoints assessed"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave radiation",
    "operant-controlled exposure",
    "broiler chicks",
    "corticosterone",
    "immune parameters",
    "spleen",
    "bursa of Fabricius",
    "heterophil:lymphocyte ratio"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3382/ps.0700509
PubMed: 2047344

Read the original paper →

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