Age does not affect thermal and cardiorespiratory responses to microwave heating in calorically restricted rats

This study sought to determine whether age influences the thermal distribution and cardiorespiratory responses to 35 GHz microwave (MW) heating. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8/group) 3 to 4 mo old (young), 15 to 16 mo old (middle-aged), and 24 to 25 mo old (old) were used. All animals were restricted to 63% of ad libitum feed. Rats were anesthetized (ketamine) and a catheter was placed into a carotid artery for measurement of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Anesthetized rats were then exposed to MWs until death, while measuring MAP, heart rate and temperatures at five sites (colonic, left and right tympanic, subcutaneous, and tail). Before MW exposure, there were no significant (p < .05) differences among age groups in measured parameters. MW produced increases in temperature at each of the measured sites; temperatures at death did not differ between groups. Heart rate increased throughout MW exposure, in a statistically identical manner in all age groups. MAP was initially well maintained and then, in the latter phases of heating, precipitously declined until death, with no discernible age-related difference. Respiration rate was not altered by MW exposure in any group. Finally, there were no group differences in the MW exposure time required to induce death. Thus, age does not alter thermal and cardiorespiratory responses to 35 GHz MW heating in food-restricted rats.