Effects of 900-MHz Microwave Radiation on γ-Ray-Induced Damage to Mouse Hematopoietic System

Abstract

Exposure of humans simultaneously to microwave and γ-ray irradiation may be a commonly encountered phenomenon. In a previous study data showed that low-dose microwave radiation increased the survival rate of mice irradiated with 8Gy γ-ray; however, the mechanisms underlying these findings remain unclear. Consequently, studies were undertaken to examine the effects of microwave exposure on hematopoietic system adversely altered by γ-ray irradiation in mice. Preexposure to low-dose microwaves attenuated the damage produced by γ-ray irradiation as evidenced by less severe pathological alterations in bone marrow and spleen. The protective effects of microwaves were postulated to be due to up-expression of some hematopoietic growth factors, stimulation of proliferation of the granulocyte–macrophages in bone marrow, and inhibition of the γ-ray induced suppression of hematopoietic stem cells/hematopoietic progenitor cells. Data thus indicate that prior exposure to microwaves may be beneficial in providing protection against injuries produced by γ-ray on the hematopoietic system in mice.

This study was supported by funds from the Jiangsu Key Project Foundation (05KJA33013) and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection. Yi Cao and Qian Xu contributed equally to this study.