No Dynamic Changes in Inflammation-related Microcirculatory Parameters in Developing Rats During Local Cortex Exposure to Microwaves

Abstract

The biological effects of exposing the developing brain to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF) are still unclear. Our experiments investigated whether three inflammation-related, microcirculatory parameters in juvenile and young adult rats were modified during local cortex exposure to RF under non-thermal conditions. The cortex tissue was locally exposed to 1457 MHz RF at an averaged specific absorption rate of 2.0 W/kg in the target area for 50 min and variations of pial venule parameter were measured directly in vivo. There was no significant difference in hemodynamics, plasma velocity or vessel diameter, between exposed and sham-exposed groups for either rat development stage. No increase related to RF exposure was found in leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in any microvessels observed. These findings suggest that RF is unlikely to initiate inflammatory responses, at least under these exposure conditions.

Keywords: Radiofrequency electromagnetic field; adhesion; developing stage; hemodynamics; leukocyte; local exposure; plasma velocity; vessel diameter; young adult rats.