title: Effects of X-band microwave exposure on rabbit erythrocytes.
abstract: Rabbit erythrocytes were exposed in vitro to continuous wave (CW) and pulse-modulated X-band microwaves in wave guide exposure chambers. Erythrocytes were exposed as whole (heparinized) blood suspensions or as washed cells in 1:1 isotonic buffered K+-free saline suspensions. Statistically significant increases in K+ efflux relative to thermal controls were detected when red cells were exposed in whole blood suspensions to either CW or pulsed 8.42-GHz microwaves at SARs that resulted in equilibrium sample temperatures of approximately 24 degrees C. Under the same exposure conditions, no statistically significant K+ efflux occurred in the case of 1:1 red cell suspensions. Measured differences in sample heating rates and temperature gradients between microwave-exposed and heated control suspensions may account in part for the differential effect of microwave exposure but such effects do not appear to explain the results of this study fully.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000528:radiation effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008872:Microwaves; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium