title: The effect of radiofrequency radiation on DNA and lipid damage in female and male infant rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to design a prolonged radiofrequency (RF) radiation exposure and investigate in an animal model, possible bio-effects of RF radiation on the ongoing developmental stages of children from conception to childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 72 New Zealand female and male white rabbits aged one month were used. Females were exposed to RF radiation for 15 min/day during 7 days, whereas males were exposed to the same level of radiation for 15 min/day during 14 days. Thirty-six female and 36 male infant rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: Group I [Intrauterine (IU) exposure (-); Extrauterine (EU) exposure (-)]: Sham exposure which means rabbits were exposed to 1800 MHz Global System for Mobile Telecommunication (GSM)-like RF signals neither in the IU nor in the EU periods. Group II [IU exposure (-); EU exposure (+)]: Infant rabbits were exposed to 1800 MHz GSM-like RF signals when they reached one month of age. Group III [IU exposure (+); EU exposure (-)]: Infant rabbits were exposed to 1800 MHz GSM-like RF signals in the IU period (between 15th and 22nd days of the gestational period). Group IV [IU exposure (+); EU exposure (+)]: Infant rabbits were exposed to 1800 MHz GSM-like RF signals both in the IU period (between 15th and 22nd days of the gestational period) and in the EU period when they reached one month of age. Biochemical analysis for lipid peroxidation and DNA damage were carried out in the livers of all rabbits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lipid peroxidation levels in the liver tissues of female and male infant rabbits increased under RF radiation exposure. Liver 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels of female rabbits exposed to RF radiation were also found to increase when compared with the levels of non-exposed infants. However, there were no changes in liver 8-OHdG levels of male rabbits under RF exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consequently, it can be concluded that GSM-like RF radiation may induce biochemical changes by increasing free radical attacks to structural biomolecules in the rabbit as an experimental animal model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Gazi Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Center, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. gozturk@gazi.edu.tr
authors.forename: Göknur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.forename: Arin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomruk
authors.forename: Elcin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozgur
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sepici
authors.forename: Nilgun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Altan
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seyhan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals