Interaction of Microwaves and a Temporally Incoherent Magnetic Field on Single and Double DNA Strand Breaks in Rat Brain Cells

Abstract

The effect of a temporally incoherent magnetic field noise on microwave-induced DNA single and double strand breaks in rat brain cells was investigated. Four treatment groups of rats were studied: microwave-exposure (continuous-wave 2450-MHz microwaves, power density 1 mW/cm², average whole-body specific absorption rate of 0.6 W/kg), noise-exposure (45 mG), microwave + noise-exposure, and sham-exposure. Animals were exposed to these conditions for 2h. DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells of these animals were assayed 4h later using a microgel electrophoresis assay. Results show that brain cells of microwave-exposed rats had significantly higher levels of DNA single- and double-strand breaks when compared with sham-exposed animals. Exposure to noise alone did not significantly affect the levels (i.e., they were similar to those of the sham-exposed rats). However, simultaneous noise exposure blocked microwave-induced increases in DNA strand breaks. These data indicate that simultaneous exposure to a temporally incoherent magnetic field could block microwave-induced DNA damage in brain cells of the rat.

Key Words:

• Brain cells
• DNA single and double strand breaks
• Microwaves
• Temporally incoherent magnetic field