Temperature and corticosterone relationships in microwave-exposed rats

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Appl. Physiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5210518

Lotz, W G; Michaelson, S M

Plasma corticosterone and colonic temperature were measured in unanesthetized male rats exposed to 2,450-MHz continuous wave (cw) radiation to characterize the response of the pituitary-adrenal axis to microwave exposure. The rats were exposed in the far field of a horn antenna for 30 or 60 min at power densities of 0, 13, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 mW/cm/sup 2/, or for 120 min at 0, 13, 20, 30, or 40 mW/cm/sup 2/. The average energy absorption rate of the rats was 0.16 W/kg absorbed per mW/cm/sup 2/ incident. Plasma from individual rats decapitated immediately after exposure was collected for analysis. Colonic temperature was significantly elevataed after exposures to power densities of 13 mW/cm/sup 2/ or greater, with progressively larger increases after high intensity exposure. Plasma corticosterone was significantly elevated above control levels only after exposures at 50 or 60 mW/cm/sup 2/ for 30- or 60-min exposures, and at 20, 30, and 40 mW/cm/sup 2/ for 120-min exposures. The relationship between the increased levels of circulating corticosterone and colonic temperature suggested that the increases in corticosterone levels may reflect a level of physiological response to the body temperature elevations caused by microwave exposure.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, NY
• OSTI ID: 5210518
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 44:3; ISSN JAPYA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000 -- Physiological Systems
560115 -- Radiation Effects on Biochemicals-- In Man-- (-1987)
560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADRENAL HORMONES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY TEMPERATURE
CONTROL
CORTICOSTEROIDS
CORTICOSTERONE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INTESTINES
IRRADIATION
KETONES
LARGE INTESTINE
MAMMALS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PREGNANES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RATS
RODENTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMOREGULATION
VERTEBRATES
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION