title: The effect of 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation of a 3G mobile phone on the parotid gland of rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the effect of 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation on the parotid gland of rats in short and relatively long terms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. Groups A and B served as the control groups (for 10 days and 40 days, respectively), and each group included six rats. Groups C and D were composed of nine rats each, and they were the exposure groups. The rats were exposed to 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation emitted by a generator, simulating a third generation mobile phone for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 10 or 40 days. Following exposure, the rats were sacrificed and parotid glands were removed. Histopathological and biochemical examinations were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although there were no histopathological changes in the control groups except for two animals in group A and three animals in group B, the exposure groups C (10 days) and D (40 days) showed numerous histopathological changes regarding salivary gland damage including acinar epithelial cells, interstitial space, ductal system, vascular system, nucleus, amount of cytoplasm and variations in cell size. The histopathological changes were more prominent in group D compared to group C. There was statistically significant different parameter regarding variation in cell size between the groups B and D (p=0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The parotid gland of rats showed numerous histopathological changes after exposure to 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation, both in the short and relatively long terms. Increased exposure duration led to an increase in the histopathological changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ministry of Health Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: flzydgn@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aydogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Düzce University Faculty of Medicine, Düzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ministry of Health Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Harran University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Şanlıurfa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yumusak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdinc
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Devrim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ministry of Health Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ethem Erdal
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Samim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Gazi Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Center, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elcin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozgur
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Velid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Unsal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Gazi Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Center, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Arin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomruk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Gazi Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Center, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Goknur Guler
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Gazi Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Center, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seyhan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040421:Cell Phone; D005260:Female; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011846:Radio Waves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar