Stimulation of the adrenal axis in the microwave exposed rat

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7342756

Lotz, W G

The purpose of this study was to determine the physiological mechanism of the adrenocortical response to acute microwave (2450 MHz, CW) exposure. Plasma corticosterone levels were used as the indicator of adrenal axis function. Male rats were exposed in the far field of a horn antenna. Plasma from individual rats decapitated immediately after exposure was analyzed for corticosterone concentration by a competitive protein binding technique. The mean colonic temperature of rats exposed to 13 mW/cm/sup 2/ for all three exposure durations was significantly higher than the mean colonic temperature of the corresponding control group. Plasma corticosterone levels exhibited a threshold pattern of response, with a different threshold for 120 minute exposures than for 30 or 60 minute exposures. For 30 or 60 minute exposures no significant increase over control levels was observed below exposures of 50 mW/cm/sup 2/. For 120 minute exposures, corticosterone levels were significantly increased at 20, 30, and 40 mW/cm/sup 2/. For all three durations of exposure, a strong correlation was evident between mean colonic temperature and mean plasma corticosterone levels. Plasma corticosterone levels in acutely hypophysectomized rats exposed to 60 mW/cm/sup 2/ for 60 minutes werebelow control levels. Other groups of rats were pretreated with dexamethasone before being exposed. The corticosterone response to microwave exposure was completely suppressed by 3.2 ..mu..g dexamethasone/100g body weight. Results indicate that the microwave-induced corticosterone response observed in normal, intact rats is dependent upon ACTH secretion by the pituitary. The evidence obtained in these experiments is consistent with the hypothesis that the stimulation of the adrenal axis in the microwave exposed rat is a systemic, integrative process due to a general hyperthermia.

• Research Organization: Rochester Univ., N.Y. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7342756
• Report Number(s): UR-3055-18
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
550500 -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACTH
ADRENAL GLANDS
ADRENAL HORMONES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLOOD
BLOOD PLASMA
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BODY TEMPERATURE
CORTICOSTEROIDS
CORTICOSTERONE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
HYPOPHYSECTOMY
KETONES
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
MICROWAVE RADIATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PHYSIOLOGY
PITUITARY GLAND
PITUITARY HORMONES
PREGNANES
PROTEINS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RATS
RODENTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
SURGERY
VERTEBRATES