Measurement of DNA damage after acute exposure to pulsed-wave 2450 MHz microwaves in rat brain cells by two alkaline comet assay methods

• Published in: International journal of radiation biology Vol. 80; no. 1; pp. 11 - 20
• Main Authors: Lagroye, I., Anane, R., Wettring, B. A., Moros, E. G., Straube, W. L., Laregina, M., Niehoff, M., Pickard, W. F., Baty, J., Roti Roti, J. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01.01.2004; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Brain - drug effects; Brain - radiation effects; Cells, Cultured; comet assay; Comet Assay - instrumentation; Comet Assay - methods; DNA - drug effects; DNA - radiation effects; DNA Damage; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Endopeptidase K - pharmacology; Gamma Rays; Male; Microwaves; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - radiation effects; Radiation Dosage; Radiometry; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Whole-Body Irradiation
• ISSN: 0955-3002; 1362-3095
• DOI: 10.1080/09553000310001642911

Purpose: To investigate the effect of 2450 MHz pulsed-wave microwaves on the induction of DNA damage in brain cells of exposed rats and to discover whether proteinase K is needed to detect DNA damage in the brain cells of rats exposed to 2450 MHz microwaves. Materials and methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 2450 MHz pulsed-wave microwaves and sacrificed 4 h after a 2-h exposure. Rats irradiated whole-body with 1 Gy 137Cs were included as positive controls. DNA damage was assayed by two variants of the alkaline comet assay on separate aliquots of the same cell preparation. Results: Significant DNA damage was observed in the rat brain cells of rats exposed to γ-rays using both versions of the alkaline comet assay independent of the presence or absence of proteinase K. However, neither version of the assay could detect any difference in comet length and or normalized comet moment between sham- and 2450 MHz pulsed-wave microwave-exposed rats, regardless of the inclusion or omission of proteinase K in the comet assay. Conclusions: No DNA damage in brain cells was detected following exposure of rats to 2450 MHz microwaves pulsed-wave at a specific absorption rate of 1.2 W kg−1 regardless of whether or not proteinase K was included in the assay. Thus, the results support the conclusion that low-level 2450 MHz pulsed-wave microwave exposures do not induce DNA damage detectable by the alkaline comet assay.