Systems for exposing mice to 2,450-MHz electromagnetic fields

Two systems for exposing mice to 2,450-MHz electromagnetic fields are described. In a waveguide system, four mice were placed in a Styrofoam cage and exposed dorsally to circularly polarized electromagnetic fields. The temperature and humidity in the mouse holder were kept constant by forced-air ventilation. For 1-W input power to the waveguide, the average specific absorption rate (SAR) was determined by twin-well calorimetry to be 3.60 +/- 0.11 (SE) W/kg in 27-g mice. The maximum SAR at the skin surface determined thermographically was 8.36 W/kg in the head of the mouse. The second system was a miniature anechoic chamber. Six mice were irradiated dorsally to far field plane waves. Copper shielding and high-temperature absorbing material were lined inside the chamber to accommodate the high input power. The air ventilation at the location of the mice was separately controlled so that any heating in the absorber would not affect the animals. For 1-W input power, the average SAR was 0.17 +/- 0.01 W/kg and the maximum SAR at the skin surface was 0.41 W/kg in the animal when irradiated with body axis parallel to the E field; the SARs were 0.11 +/- 0.01 W/kg and 0.64 W/kg, respectively, when irradiated perpendicular to the E field.