Article

Melatonin and a spin-trap compound block radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in rat brain cells

  1. Henry Lai*,
  2. Narendra P. Singh

Article first published online: 6 DEC 1998

DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-186X(1997)18:6<446::AID-BEM7>3.0.CO;2-2

Issue

Bioelectromagnetics

Bioelectromagnetics

Volume 18, Issue 6, pages 446–454, 1997

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lai, H. and Singh, N. P. (1997), Melatonin and a spin-trap compound block radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in rat brain cells. Bioelectromagnetics, 18: 446–454. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-186X(1997)18:6<446::AID-BEM7>3.0.CO;2-2

Author Information

  1. Bioelectromagnetics Research Laboratory, Center for Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

*Center for Bioengineering, Box 357962, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 DEC 1998
  2. Article first published online: 6 DEC 1998
  3. Manuscript Revised: 28 JAN 1997
  4. Manuscript Received: 5 DEC 1996

Funded by

  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Grant Number: ES-03712

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Keywords:

  • radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RER);
  • brain cells;
  • DNA single- and double-strand breaks;
  • melatonin;
  • N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PNB);
  • free radicals

Abstract

Effects of in vivo microwave exposure on DNA strand breaks, a form of DNA damage, were investigated in rat brain cells. In previous research, we have found that acute (2 hours) exposure to pulsed (2 μsec pulses, 500 pps) 2450-MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RFR) (power density 2 mW/cm2, average whole body specific absorption rate 1.2 W/kg) caused an increase in DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells of the rat when assayed 4 hours post exposure using a microgel electrophoresis assay. In the present study, we found that treatment of rats immediately before and after RFR exposure with either melatonin (1 mg/kg/injection, SC) or the spin-trap compound N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN) (100 mg/kg/injection, IP) blocks this effect of RFR. Since both melatonin and PBN are efficient free radical scavengers, it is hypothesized that free radicals are involved in RFR-induced DNA damage in the brain cells of rats. Since cumulated DNA strand breaks in brain cells can lead to neurodegenerative diseases and cancer and an excess of free radicals in cells has been suggested to be the cause of various human diseases, data from this study could have important implications for the health effects of RFR exposure. Bioelectromagnetics 18:446–454, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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