title: Effect of Low Level Subchronic Microwave Radiation on Rat Brain.
abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of subchronic low level microwave radiation (MWR) on cognitive function, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) level and DNA damage in brain of Fischer rats.
  
  
  
  Experiments were performed on male Fischer rats exposed to microwave radiation for 90 days at three different frequencies: 900, 1800, and 2450 MHz. Animals were divided into 4 groups: Group I: Sham exposed, Group II: animals exposed to microwave radiation at 900 MHz and specific absorption rate (SAR) 5.953 × 10-4 W/kg, Group III: animals exposed to 1800 MHz at SAR 5.835 × 10-4 W/kg and Group IV: animals exposed to 2450 MHz at SAR 6.672 × 10-4 W/kg. All the animals were tested for cognitive function using elevated plus maze and Morris water maze at the end of the exposure period and subsequently sacrificed to collect brain tissues. HSP70 levels were estimated by ELISA and DNA damage was assessed using alkaline comet assay.
  
  
  
  Microwave exposure at 900-2450 MHz with SAR values as mentioned above lead to decline in cognitive function, increase in HSP70 level and DNA damage in brain.
  
  
  
  The results of the present study suggest that low level microwave exposure at frequencies 900, 1800, and 2450 MHz may lead to hazardous effects on brain.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry. University College of Medical Sciences & G.T.B. Hospital (University of Delhi), Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India.
authors.forename: Pravin Suryakantrao
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry. University College of Medical Sciences & G.T.B. Hospital (University of Delhi), Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India.
authors.forename: Kanu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Megha
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry. University College of Medical Sciences & G.T.B. Hospital (University of Delhi), Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India; Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences & G.T.B. Hospital (University of Delhi), Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India
authors.forename: Namita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nasare
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry. University College of Medical Sciences & G.T.B. Hospital (University of Delhi), Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India.
authors.forename: Basu Dev
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry. University College of Medical Sciences & G.T.B. Hospital (University of Delhi), Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India.
authors.forename: Rafat Sultana
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Research in Electronics (CARE), Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
authors.forename: Mahesh Pandurang
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Abegaonkar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Research in Electronics (CARE), Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
authors.forename: Ashok Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences & G.T.B. Hospital (University of Delhi), Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India
authors.forename: Pramod Kumari
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mediratta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
keywords: Brain; Cognitive function; Comet assay; DNA damage; HSP70; Microwave radiation