ID Number		105
Study Type		In Vitro
Model		1800 MHz (CW,GSM) exposure to isolated pineal glands and analysis of melatonin secretion
Details		Isolated pineal glands from Djungarian hamsters were perfused and stimulated with beta-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol to induce melatonin synthesis and exposed to 1800 MHz (CW, GSM) RF for 7 hours at 0.008, 0.08, 0.8, or 2.7 W/kg. Perfused samples were collected every hour and assayed for melatonin. The authors report a 1.5 fold enhancement of melatonin secretion by CW and GSM signals at 0.8 W/kg, suggesting an effect of RF but no difference due to modulation. In contrast, CW signals enhanced and GSM signals decreased melatonin secretion at 2.7 W/kg. Temperature increased 0.6 degrees at 0.8 W/kg and 1.2 degrees with 2.7 W/kg exposure. The authors conclude that their data do not support the 'melatonin hypothesis' of non-thermal exposures suppressing melatonin synthesis. The authors also published a review on the possible adverse effects of electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields on influencing melatonin and its effect on physiological functions and oxygen-derived radical scavenging. The rationale for numerous studies, including epidemiologic studies, has included the theory that effects of melatonin due to EMF may have adverse health effects, although the impact of those fields on the general population is still matter of controversy. The melatonin hypotheses puts these different issues into context. Commonly accepted mechanisms by which weak fields are able to interact with biological systems are still missing, since the energy transmitted seems to be too low in comparison to the thermal noise. Non-linear mechanisms are discussed as possible alternative explanations.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		International University Bremen, Germany - a.lerchl@iu-bremen.de
Funding Agency		FGF, Germany, BfS, Germany, DMF, Germany
Country		GERMANY
References		Sukhotina, I et al. J Pineal Research , (2006) 40:86-91
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