Cytogenetic consequences of microwave irradiation on mammalian cells incubated in vitro
Abstract:
A 2450 MHz microwave oven was converted into a microwave incubator. Rat kangaroo RH5 and RH16 cells were incubated in the incubator and were subcultured every 5 to 7 days. The temperature of the cell cultures in the incubator was maintained at 37 degrees C. The cells were incubated with direct microwave irradiation continuously for 50 passages and then returned to a conventional incubator and allowed to grow for another 30 passages. Cell growth rate was significantly reduced after 7 or 15 subculture passages under irradiation. Chromosome aberrations emerged after the cells had been microwave-incubated for about 20 passages. The long-term irradiation caused 0.84 chromosome breaks per cell in RH5 cell cultures and 0.10 breaks per cell in RH16 cell cultures. After the cell cultures had been returned to the conventional incubator and maintained for 30 passages, the number of chromosomes breaks was greatly reduced in both cell cultures. The number of polyploid cells was increased to 35 percent and 31 percent during the irradiation, and was significantly reduced in the conventional incubator. Many RH5 cells lost one chromosome and became 10-chromosome cells. The number of 10-chromosome cells increased during irradiation and continued to increase after being returned to the conventional incubator.
Insights
Microwave irradiation significantly reduced cell growth and induced chromosome aberrations in rat kangaroo cells. These effects diminished after returning cells to a conventional incubator, indicating microwave exposure
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Genetics
Background:
- Microwave irradiation is increasingly used in biological applications.
- The long-term effects of microwave exposure on cell cultures are not fully understood.
- Cellular responses to specific microwave frequencies require detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of continuous microwave irradiation on cell growth and chromosomal stability.
- To assess the reversibility of microwave-induced cellular changes.
- To evaluate the effects of microwave incubation on rat kangaroo cell lines (RH5 and RH16).
Main Methods:
- Conversion of a 2450 MHz microwave oven into a functional microwave incubator.
- Incubation and subculturing of RH5 and RH16 cells under continuous microwave irradiation (37°C) for 50 passages.
- Post-irradiation recovery period in a conventional incubator for 30 passages.
- Analysis of cell growth rate, chromosome aberrations, and ploidy levels.
Main Results:
- Significant reduction in cell growth rate observed after 7-15 passages under microwave irradiation.
- Emergence of chromosome aberrations, including breaks (0.84/cell in RH5, 0.10/cell in RH16), after approximately 20 passages.
- Increased polyploidy (35% in RH5, 31% in RH16) during irradiation, which decreased post-irradiation.
- A notable increase in 10-chromosome cells (aneuploidy) in RH5 cells, persisting even after removal from microwave exposure.
Conclusions:
- Continuous microwave irradiation at 2450 MHz negatively impacts cell growth and genetic stability.
- Microwave-induced chromosomal damage and ploidy changes are partially reversible upon cessation of exposure.
- Long-term microwave exposure can lead to persistent genetic alterations, such as aneuploidy, in cell lines.
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