Studies on Acute in Vivo Exposure of Rats to 2450-MHz Microwave Radiation: 1. Mast Cells and Basophils

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Abstract
Eight hour continuous exposure to 2450 MHz microwave radiation in rats was carried out at incident power densities that cause no apparent temperature increase (2 and 10 mW/cm2). The peritoneal mast cells were unchanged in their viability, percentage, toluidine blue metachromasia, histamine content or size. Isolated mast cells from control and irradiated rats responded in a similar manner to drugs that stimulate histamine secretion via both the chemical (compound 48/80, a condensation product of p-methoxy-N-methyl phenethylamine and formaldehyde) and immunological (concanavalin A) pathways. The release of histamine in vivo from basophils and mast cells was determined by i.v. injection of 48/80 into anesthetized rats. Rats subjected to both levels of irradiation were similar to the controls in their initial blood pressures and their hyposensitive response to 48/80. The microwave frequency and power densities used in these experiments do not impair normal function in the histamine-secreting cells of the rat.