Radiofrequency Radiation Alters the Immune System: II. Modulation of in Vivo Lymphocyte Circulation

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Abstract
In vivo lymphocyte circulation was significantly altered in mice exposed to whole body radiofrequency radiation (RFR). In vivo lymphocyte circulation was followed by quantitating activity of sodium chromate-51-labeled lymphocytes in the lung, spleen, liver and bone marrow of animals at different times after i.v. spleen lymphocyte injection. Immediately after cell injection, animals were exposed to 2.6 GHz RFR (CW) at 25 or 5 mW/cm2 (3.8 W/kg) for 1 h. At 1,6 and 24 h after lymphocyte injection target organs were removed weighed and counted. Sham RFR, warm-air and steroid-treated groups were included as controls. Hyperthermic RFR exposure (25 mW/cm2; 2.0.degree. C increase in core temperature) led to a 37% reduction in lymphocytes leaving the lung to migrate into the spleen. A 3-fold increase in spleen lymphocytes entering the bone marrow occurred. This pattern was observed in the steroid-treated group; nonthermogenic RFR exposure (5 mW/cm2) and warm-air exposures did not lead to altered lymphocyte traffic. Steroid release associated with thermal stress and the process of thermoregulation apparently are significant operant factors responsible for RFR effects on the immune system.