Studies of the teratogenic potential of exposure of rats to 6000-MHz microwave radiation. I. Morphologic analysis at term

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3576279· OSTI ID:5020824

Jensh, R P

Thirty-six pregnant Wistar strain albino rats were exposed throughout pregnancy to 6000-MHz microwave radiation at a power density level of 35 mW/cm/sup 2/ or were used as controls. The irradiation did not cause a significant increase in maternal body temperature as measured by a rectal thermocouple. The rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: home cage control (5), anechoic chamber control (10), sham-irradiated concurrent control (10), and irradiated (11). All animals were killed on the 22nd day of gestation, and maternal tissues were removed and weighed and maternal blood samples were taken. The 384 resultant fetuses and their placentas were individually weighed, fixed, and dissected to determine normality. Teratologic evaluation included the following parameters: maternal weight and weight gain; mean litter size; maternal organ weight and organ weight/body weight ratios; body weight ratios of brain, liver, kidneys, and ovaries; maternal peripheral blood parameters including hematocrit, hemoglobin, and white cell counts; number of resorptions and resorption rate; number of abnormalities and abnormality rate; mean term fetal weight. The irradiated fetuses exhibited slight but statistically significant growth retardation at term. Term maternal monocyte count was also significantly depressed. No other parameters differed between the control groups and the irradiated group.

• Research Organization: Jefferson Medical Coll., Philadelphia, PA
• OSTI ID: 5020824
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 97:2; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550800 -- Morphology
560152 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DATA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FETUSES
FREQUENCY RANGE
GHZ RANGE
GHZ RANGE 01-100
INFORMATION
LITTER SIZE
MAMMALS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NUMERICAL DATA
PREGNANCY
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
RADIATIONS
RATS
RODENTS
TERATOGENESIS
VERTEBRATES
WEIGHT