Effects of mobile phones on oxidant/antioxidant balance in cornea and lens of rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of mobile-phone-emitted radiation on the oxidant/antioxidant balance in corneal and lens tissues and to observe any protective effects of vitamin C in this setting.


METHODS
Forty female albino Wistar rats were assigned to one of four groups containing 10 rats each. One group received a standardized daily dose of mobile phone radiation for 4 weeks. The second group received this same treatment along with a daily oral dose of vitamin C (250 mg/kg). The third group received this dose of vitamin C alone, while the fourth group received standard laboratory care and served as a control. In corneal and lens tissues, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) were measured with spectrophotometric methods.


RESULTS
In corneal tissue, MDA level and CAT activity significantly increased in the mobile phone group compared with the mobile phone plus vitamin C group and the control group (p < 0.05), whereas SOD activity was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In the lens tissues, only the MDA level significantly increased in the mobile phone group relative to mobile phone plus vitamin C group and the control groups (p < 0.05). In lens tissue, significant differences were not found between the groups in terms of SOD, GSH-Px, or CAT (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that mobile telephone radiation leads to oxidative stress in corneal and lens tissues and that antioxidants such as vitamin C can help to prevent these effects.
Balci
Mehmet
M
Ankara Oncology Hospital. Ankara. Turkey. mehmetbalci2001@yahoo.com
Devrim
Erdinc
E
Durak
Ilker
I
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D040421:Cell Phone; D003315:Cornea / Q000201:enzymology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000201:enzymology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid