Effect of microwave electromagnetic field on skeletal muscle fibre activity

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of microwave irradiation on fatiguing activity of isolated frog skeletal muscle fibres. The changes in the electrical and mechanical activity were used as criteria for the exposure effects. Repetitive suprathreshold stimulation with interstimulus interval of 200 ms for 3 min was applied. Intracellular (ICAP) and extracellular (ECAP) action potentials and twitch contractions (Tw) of muscle fibres after 1 hour microwave exposure (2.45 GHz, 20 mW/cm( 2) power density) were compared with those recorded after one hour sham exposure (control). The duration of uninterrupted activity in the trial (endurance time; ET) was not significantly affected by microwave field exposure. After microwave irradiation, the ICAP amplitude was higher, the rising time was shorter, and the resting membrane potential was more negative compared to controls. There was a slower rate of parameters changes during ET in potentials obtained from irradiated fibres. Microwave exposure increased the propagation velocity of excitation, the ECAP and Tw amplitudes, as well as shortened their time parameters. We concluded that a 2.45 GHz microwave field possesses a stimulating effect on muscle fibre activity, which is in part due to its specific, non-thermal properties. The microwave induced-changes in muscle fibre activity may reduce development of skeletal muscle fatigue.