ID Number		421
Study Type		In Vitro
Model		2450 MHz (CW) exposure to human red blood cells and analysis of ion flux
Details		Human erythrocytes were exposed to 2450 MHz (CW) microwaves for 1-2 hours at between 2-3 W/kg and analyzed for active and passive sodium efflux. Microwave exposure increased total (and the ouabain insensitive) Na+ efflux and decreased ouabain-sensitive Na+ efflux in cells incubated at 20.1, 23, and 24 C. In contrast, microwave exposure had no effect on cells incubated at 18.6 and 34.7 C. The authors suggest the observed microwave effects are a due to changes in Na+-K+ exchange mediated by ATPase. In an extension of this study, human red blood cell (ghosts) were exposed to 2450 MHz (CW) at 6 W/kg. Exposure resulted in a 36% decrease in Na+/K+ ATPase activity at the transition temperature of 25 C, and a smaller (4%) decrease in Ca++ ATPase activity at 23 - 27 degrees C. The authors conclude that their observation of a microwave effect only at the transition temperatures is not interpretable as a phase transition in the membrane lipid, but probably involves a protein-lipid interaction within the membrane or a conformational change in the protein itself. In an earlier study using sonicated egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles exposed to 2450 MHz (CW) MW at an SAR of 25 W/kg for up to 19 hours, no leakage of 24Na+ was reported.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		Michigan St. Univ., USA
Funding Agency		Private/Instit.
Country		CANADA
References		Fisher, PD et al. Radiat. Res., (1982) 92:411-422 Fisher, PD et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (1981) 2:217-225
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