title: The effect of melatonin on body mass and behaviour of rats during an exposure to microwave radiation from mobile phone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microwave radiation (MW) produced by wireless telecommunications and a number of electrical devices used in household or in healthcare institutions may cause various disorders in human organism. On the other hand, melatonin is a potent antioxidant, immunostimulator and neuromodulator. The aim of this research was to determine body mass and behaviour changes in rats after a chronic microwave exposure, as well as to determine the effects of melatonin on body mass and behaviour in irradiated rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were divided into the four experimental groups: I group (control) - rats treated with 0,9 % saline, II group (Mel) - rats treated with melatonin (2 mg/kg), III group (MW) - rats exposed to MW radiation (4 h/day), IV group (MW+Mel) - rats, which were both exposed to MW radiation and received melatonin premedication (2 mg/kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant body mass reduction was noted in animals exposed to MW radiation when compared to controls after 20, 40 and 60 days (p<0.001). Furthermore, body weight was significantly increased (p<0.05) in irradiated rats, which received melatonin pretreatment (MW+Mel) in comparison to irradiated group (MW) after 20 days. Microwave radiation exposed animals showed an anxiety related behaviour (agitation, irritability) after 10 days of exposure. After the radiation source removal, changes in behaviour were less noticeable. Melatonin administration to irradiated rats caused a decrease in the stress induced behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microwave radiation causes body mass decrease and anxiety related behaviour in rats, however melatonin causes a reverse of those effects on both body weight and behaviour of irradiated animals (Fig. 2, Ref. 32).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sokolovic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Djordjevic
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kocic
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Babovic
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ristic
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stanojkovic
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sokolovic
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veljkovic
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jankovic
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Radovanovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000528:radiation effects*; D040421:Cell Phone; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin