title: Eight hours of nocturnal 915 MHz radiofrequency identification (RFID) exposure reduces urinary levels of melatonin and its metabolite via pineal arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase activity in male rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects of whole-body exposure to the 915 MHz radiofrequency identification (RFID) on melatonin biosynthesis and the activity of rat pineal arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were exposed to RFID (whole-body specific absorption rate, 4 W/kg) for 8 h/day, 5 days/week, for weeks during the nighttime. Total volume of urine excreted during a 24-h period was collected after RFID exposure. Urinary melatonin and 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6-OHMS) was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. AANAT enzyme activity was measured using liquid biphasic dif-13 fusion assay. Protein levels and mRNA expression of AANAT was 14 measured by Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase 15 chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight hours of nocturnal RFID exposure caused a significant reduction in both urinary melatonin (p = 0. 003) and 6-OHMS (p = 0. 026). Activity, protein levels, and mRNA expression of AANAT were suppressed by exposure to RFID (p < 0. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that nocturnal RFID exposure can cause reductions in the levels of both urinary melatonin and 6-OHMS, possibly due to decreased melatonin biosynthesis via suppression of Aanat gene transcription in the rat pineal gland.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Ajou University School of Medicine , Suwon ;
authors.forename: Hye Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: b College of Pharmacy , Sunchon National University , Sunchon ;
authors.forename: Man-Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Ajou University School of Medicine , Suwon ;|c Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences , Graduate School of Ajou University , Suwon ;
authors.forename: Yu Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: d Division of Life Science and Pharmaceuticals, College of Pharmacy , Ewha Woman's University , Seoul ;
authors.forename: Yun-Sil
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: e Radio Technology Research Department , Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute , Daejeon ;
authors.forename: Hyung Do
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: f Department of Radio Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering , Chungnam National University , Daejeon ;
authors.forename: Jeong-Ki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pack
authors.affiliation: g School of Electrical and Computer Engineering , Chungbuk National University , Cheongju , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Ajou University School of Medicine , Suwon ;|c Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences , Graduate School of Ajou University , Suwon ;
authors.forename: Young Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047068:Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure; D057233:Radio Frequency Identification Device; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: C520223:Aanat protein, rat; D047068:Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase; D008550:Melatonin; C012365:6-hydroxymelatonin
keywords: Radiofrequency identification; melatonin; pineal gland; rat