Effects of microwave exposure on the hamster immune system. I. Natural killer cell activity

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250040204· OSTI ID:5390251

Yang, H K; Cain, C A; Lockwood, J; Tompkins, W A

Hamsters were exposed to repeated or single doses of microwave energy and monitored for changes in core body temperature, circulating leukocyte profiles, serum corticosteroid levels, and natural killer (NK) cell activity in various tissues. NK cytotoxicity was measured in a /sup 51/Cr-release assay employing baby hamster kidney (BHK) targets or BHK infected with herpes simplex virus. Repeated exposure of hamsters at 15 mW/cm2 for 60 min/day had no significant effect on natural levels of spleen-cell NK activity against BHK targets. Similarly, repeated exposure at 15 mW/cm2 over a 5-day period had no demonstrable effect on the induction of spleen NK activity by vaccinia virus immunization, that is, comparable levels of NK were induced in untreated and microwave-treated animals. In contrast, treatment of hamsters with a single 60-min microwave exposure at 25 mW/cm2 caused a significant suppression in induced spleen NK activity. A similar but less marked decrease in spleen NK activity was observed in sham-exposed animals. Moreover, the sham effects on NK activity were not predictable and appeared to represent large individual animal variations in the response to stress factors. Depressed spleen NK activity was evident as early as 4 h postmicrowave treatment and returned to normal levels by 8 h. Hamsters exposed at 25 mW/cm2 showed an elevated temperature of 3.0-3.5 degrees C that returned to normal within 60 min after termination of microwave exposure. These animals also showed a marked lymphopenia and neutrophilia by 1 h posttreatment that returned to normal by 8-10 h. Serum glucocorticosteroids were elevated between 1 aNd 8 h after microwave treatment. Sham-exposed animals did not demonstrate significant changes in core body temperature, peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) profile, or glucocorticosteroid levels as compared to minimum-handling controls.

• Research Organization: Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• OSTI ID: 5390251
• Journal Information: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 4:2; ISSN BLCTD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADRENAL HORMONES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BODY TEMPERATURE
CORTICOSTEROIDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HAMSTERS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
HYPERTHERMIA
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
KETONES
KIDNEYS
LEUKOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PREGNANES
RADIATIONS
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SPLEEN
SPLEEN CELLS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
VERTEBRATES