Effects of low-intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation on chromatin structure of lymphoid cells in vivo and in vitro

Gapeev AB, Lushnikov KV, Shumilina IuV, Sirota NP, Sadovnikov VB, Chemeris NK.

Radiats Biol Radioecol. 43(1):87-92, 2003

[Article in Russian]

Using a comet assay technique, it was shown for the first time that low-intensity extremely high-frequency electromagnetic radiation (EHF EMR) in vivo causes oppositely directed effects on spatial organization of chromatin in cells of lymphoid organs.

In 3 hrs after single whole-body exposure of NMRI mice for 20 min at 42.0 GHz and 0.15 mW/cm², an increase by 16% (p < 0.03 as compared with control) and a decrease by 16% (p < 0.001) in fluorescence intensity of nucleoids stained with ethidium bromide were found in thymocytes and splenocytes, respectively. The fluorescence intensity of stained nucleoids in peripheral blood leukocytes was not changed after the exposure.

The exposure of cells of Raji hunan lymphoid line and peripheral blood leukocytes to the EHF EMR in vitro induced a decrease in fluorescence intensity by 23% (p < 0.001) and 18% (p < 0.05), respectively. These effects can be determined by changes in a number of physiological alkali-labile sites in DNA of exposed cells.

We suggested that the effects of low-intensity EHF EMR on the immune system cells are realized with the participation of neuroendocrine and central nervous systems.