Fifty-gigahertz microwave exposure effect of radiations on rat brain.

Applied biochemistry and biotechnology · 2009 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 6463

Compared with sham-exposed controls, 50-GHz microwave-exposed rats showed evidence of DNA double-strand breaks and significant decreases in GPx and SOD activity. Catalase activity increased significantly, and PKC decreased significantly in whole brain and hip…

Study snapshot

PublicationApplied biochemistry and biotechnology · 2009

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The object of this study is to investigate the effects of 50-GHz microwave radiation on the brain of Wistar rats. Male rats of the Wistar strain were used in the study. Animals of 60-day age were divided into two groups-group 1, sham-exposed, and group 2, experimental (microwave-exposed). The rats were housed in a temperature-controlled room (25 degrees C) with constant humidity (40-50%) and received food and water ad libitum. During exposure, rats were placed in Plexiglas cages with drilled ventilation holes and kept in an anechoic chamber. The animals were exposed for 2 h a day for 45 days continuously at a power level of 0.86 microW/cm(2) with nominal specific absorption rate 8.0 x 10(-4) w/kg. After the exposure period, the rats were killed and homogenized, and protein kinase C (PKC), DNA double-strand break, and antioxidant enzyme activity [superoxides dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were estimated in the whole brain. Result shows that the chronic exposure to these radiations causes DNA double-strand break (head and tail length, intensity and tail migration) and a significant decrease in GPx and SOD activity (p = or<0.05) in brain cells, whereas catalase activity shows significant increase in the exposed group of brain samples as compared with control (p = or<0.001). In addition to these, PKC decreased significantly in whole brain and hippocampus (p < 0.05). All data are expressed as mean +/- standard deviation. We conclude that these radiations can have a significant effect on the whole brain.

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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

PopulationMale Wistar rats (60 days old)

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · 50000 MHz · 0.0008 W/kg · 2 h/day for 45 days (chronic)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

DNA double-strand breaks
Protein kinase C (PKC) levels
Antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, catalase, GPx) in whole brain

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure source/setup details beyond power density and nominal SAR not fully described in abstract
Outcomes limited to biochemical markers; no behavioral or clinical endpoints reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 50000,
    "sar_wkg": 0.0008,
    "duration": "2 h/day for 45 days (chronic)"
  },
  "population": "Male Wistar rats (60 days old)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA double-strand breaks",
    "Protein kinase C (PKC) levels",
    "Antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, catalase, GPx) in whole brain"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with sham-exposed controls, 50-GHz microwave-exposed rats showed evidence of DNA double-strand breaks and significant decreases in GPx and SOD activity. Catalase activity increased significantly, and PKC decreased significantly in whole brain and hippocampus.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure source/setup details beyond power density and nominal SAR not fully described in abstract",
    "Outcomes limited to biochemical markers; no behavioral or clinical endpoints reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "50 GHz",
    "microwave radiation",
    "Wistar rats",
    "brain",
    "DNA double-strand break",
    "oxidative stress",
    "SOD",
    "catalase",
    "glutathione peroxidase",
    "protein kinase C",
    "hippocampus",
    "anechoic chamber",
    "power density",
    "SAR"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.32,
      "reason": "Exposure frequency (50 GHz) falls within mmWave/upper microwave range relevant to some 5G discussions, though this is an animal study and not explicitly about 5G."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1007/s12010-008-8469-8
PubMed: 19089649

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