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[Effects of microwave radiation on thymocytes in mice at different power densities].

Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases · 2004 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 6414

Compared with controls, mice exposed to 2,450 MHz microwaves showed lower body weight at 5 and 15 mW/cm^2, pathological changes in thymus, higher CD8 expression at 5 and 15 mW/cm^2, lower G2+M phase thymocytes at 5 and 15 mW/cm^2, and higher thymocyte apoptos…

Study snapshot

PublicationZhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases · 2004
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of microwave radiation on thymocytes in mice at different power densities. METHODS: The experimental animals were whole-body exposed to microwave radiation with frequency of 2,450 MHz, power density of 1, 5, 15 mW/cm(2) respectively 1 h everyday for 30 days. Then the thymus were taken out after the mice were decapitated. Thymus index, morphological characteristics of thymus were examined. The changes of thymus T-cell subgroups, cell cycle progression in thymocytes and cellular apoptosis were detected with flow cytometry (FCM). RESULTS: The body weights of animals in 5, 15 mW/cm(2) irradiation groups [(28.10 +/- 1.46), (27.50 +/- 2.52) g] were lower than that of the control [(31.95 +/- 2.51) g] (P < 0.05). Pathological observation showed dark red piece of nucleus, some nuclei inclined to one side, slight increase in hassall body. The expressions of CD8 in 5, 15 mW/cm(2) irradiation groups (29.14% +/- 1.68%, 29.18% +/- 0.81%) were higher than that in control group (26.95% +/- 1.27%) (P < 0.05). The percentages of G(2) + M phase thymocytes in both radiation groups (12.24% +/- 1.82%, 11.19% +/- 1.36%) were lower than that in control group (14.58% +/- 0.64%) (P < 0.01). Thymocytic apoptosis rates in the three experimental groups (7.18% +/- 0.99%, 10.06% +/- 1.58%, 9.45% +/- 0.92%) were higher than that in control (4.25% +/- 1.63%) (P < 0.01), but the evident difference between 5 mW/cm(2) and 15 mW/cm(2) was not found (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sub-chronic microwave exposure (2 450 MHz, 5, 15 mW/cm(2)) could induce thymocyte apoptosis, cause pathological changes in thymus, and affect cell cycle progression, thus may inhibit the immune function of the animal.

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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 directionharm
PopulationMice (experimental animals)
Sample sizeNot supplied
Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz · 1 h/day for 30 days (whole-body exposure); power density 1, 5, 15 mW/cm^2
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with controls, mice exposed to 2,450 MHz microwaves showed lower body weight at 5 and 15 mW/cm^2, pathological changes in thymus, higher CD8 expression at 5 and 15 mW/cm^2, lower G2+M phase thymocytes at 5 and 15 mW/cm^2, and higher thymocyte apoptosis rates at 1, 5, and 15 mW/cm^2. No significant difference in apoptosis rate was observed between 5 and 15 mW/cm^2.

Outcomes measured

  • Body weight
  • Thymus index
  • Thymus morphology/pathology
  • T-cell subgroups (CD8 expression)
  • Cell cycle progression in thymocytes (G2+M phase %)
  • Thymocyte apoptosis rate

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • SAR not reported; exposure characterized by power density only
  • Details of randomization/blinding not described in abstract
  • Some outcomes reported only for 5 and 15 mW/cm^2 (not clearly for 1 mW/cm^2)
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 h/day for 30 days (whole-body exposure); power density 1, 5, 15 mW/cm^2"
  },
  "population": "Mice (experimental animals)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Body weight",
    "Thymus index",
    "Thymus morphology/pathology",
    "T-cell subgroups (CD8 expression)",
    "Cell cycle progression in thymocytes (G2+M phase %)",
    "Thymocyte apoptosis rate"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with controls, mice exposed to 2,450 MHz microwaves showed lower body weight at 5 and 15 mW/cm^2, pathological changes in thymus, higher CD8 expression at 5 and 15 mW/cm^2, lower G2+M phase thymocytes at 5 and 15 mW/cm^2, and higher thymocyte apoptosis rates at 1, 5, and 15 mW/cm^2. No significant difference in apoptosis rate was observed between 5 and 15 mW/cm^2.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "SAR not reported; exposure characterized by power density only",
    "Details of randomization/blinding not described in abstract",
    "Some outcomes reported only for 5 and 15 mW/cm^2 (not clearly for 1 mW/cm^2)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave radiation",
    "2450 MHz",
    "power density",
    "whole-body exposure",
    "mice",
    "thymocytes",
    "thymus",
    "apoptosis",
    "cell cycle",
    "CD8",
    "immune function"
  ],
  "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: Not supplied
PubMed: 15130439

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