Radiofrequency radiation does not significantly affect ornithine decarboxylase activity, proliferation, or caspase-3 activity of fibroblasts in different physiological conditions.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that variations in the physiological state of cells explain inconsistent results from in vitro studies on biological effects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation.


METHODS
Murine L929 fibroblasts stimulated with fresh medium, stressed with serum deprivation or not subjected to stimulation or stress were exposed in a waveguide exposure chamber to 872 MHz continuous wave or pulse modulated (217 pulses per second) RF radiation at specific absorption rate of 5 W/kg. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity after 1-and 24-h exposures, proliferation during 48 h after 24 h exposure, and caspase-3 activity (a measure of apoptosis) after 1 h exposure were measured.


RESULTS
The cells responded to fresh medium and serum deprivation, but no consistent effects of RF radiation were found. One statistically significant (p=0.03) RF radiation-related difference was observed in ODC activity, but this is most likely a chance finding, as many statistical comparisons were performed, and the finding was not supported by any other data.


CONCLUSIONS
The results did not support effects on the endpoints studied. Furthermore, stressed and stimulated cells were not more sensitive than normal cells to possible RF radiation-induced effects.
Höytö
Anne
A
Department of Environmental Science, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. Anne.Hoyto@uku.fi
Sokura
Mikko
M
Juutilainen
Jukka
J
Naarala
Jonne
J
D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D040421:Cell Phone; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051379:Mice; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
D053148:Caspase 3; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase