Physiological and Psychological Stress of Microwave Radiation-Induced Cardiac Injury in Rats

Abstract

Physiological and Psychological Stress of Microwave Radiation-Induced Cardiac Injury in Rats Li D, Xu X, Yin Y, Yao B, Dong J, Zhao L, Wang H, Wang H, Zhang J, Peng R. Physiological and Psychological Stress of Microwave Radiation-Induced Cardiac Injury in Rats. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 25;24(7):6237. doi: 10.3390/ijms24076237. Abstract Electromagnetic waves are widely used in both military and civilian fields, which could cause long-term and high- power exposure to certain populations and may pose a health hazard. The aim of this study was to simulate the long-term and high-power working environment of workers using special electromagnetic radiation occupations to clarify the radiation-induced stress response and cardiac damage and thus gain insights into the mechanisms of injuries caused by electromagnetic radiation. In this study, the combination of microwave and stress was an innovative point, aiming to broaden the research direction with regard to the effect and mechanism of cardiac injury caused by radiation. The myocardial structure was observed by optical and transmission electron microscope, mitochondrial function was detected by flow cytometry, oxidative-stress markers were detected by microplate reader, serum stress hormone was detected by radioimmunoassay, and heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed by multichannel-physiological recorder. The rats were weighed and subjected to an open field experiment. Western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence (IF) were used to detect the expressions and distributions of JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), p-JNK (phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase), HSF1 (heat shock factor), and NFATc4 (nuclear factor of activated T-cell 4). This study found that radiation could lead to the disorganization, fragmentation, and dissolution of myocardial fibers, severe mitochondrial cavitation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative-stress injury in myocardium, increase to stress hormone in serum, significant changes in HRV, and a slow gain in weight. The open field experiment indicated that the rats experienced anxiety and depression and had decreased exercise capacity after radiation. The expressions of JNK, p-JNK, HSF1, and NFATc4 in myocardial tissue were all increased. The above results suggested that 30 mW/cm2 of S-band microwave radiation for 35 min could cause both physiological and psychological stress damage in rats; the damage was related to the activation of the JNK pathway, which provided new ideas for research on protection from radiation. Excerpt To sum up, electromagnetism is used for long-term and high-power applications in communication, medical, and military fields, and the modeling conditions designed in this experiment were designed to simulate the long- term working environment of special electromagnetic occupational groups, expecting to provide new ideas for research on protection. After 35 min of long-term exposure, rats showed an increase in serum hormone, myocardial structural damage, abnormal HRV, myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative-stress damage. The above results demonstrated that physiological stress injury occurred in this model; the psychological stress in this model animal was confirmed by the results of weight and the open field experiment simultaneously; and the mechanism of cardiac injury caused by electromagnetic radiation might be closely related to the activation of JNK pathway. We have plotted the results of this study in Figure 18. Therefore, this study, from the perspective of stress, investigated the relationship between stress and changes in cardiac structure and function after electromagnetic radiation, and then explored its possible mechanism of injury, which expanded a new orientation for the study of effects in the field, and contributed to providing a new target for protection from radiation. Our study suggested that the cause of cardiac injury from long-term and high-power microwave radiation might be the result of a combination of the thermal and non-thermal effects; therefore, the possibility of cardiac injury from microwaves should be minimized in certain special occupational groups involved in the above environment by shortening the length of a single exposure or extending the interval between exposures as much as possible. In addition, in the study of early warning functional indicators, heart rate variability should be used as a breakthrough with clinical interface for in-depth validation in order to promote application. Open access paper: mdpi.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In rats, exposure to 30 mW/cm2 S-band microwave radiation for 35 min was associated with myocardial fiber disorganization/fragmentation, severe mitochondrial cavitation and dysfunction, oxidative-stress injury in myocardium, increased serum stress hormones, significant HRV changes, and slower weight gain. Open field testing suggested anxiety/depression and decreased exercise capacity after radiation, and myocardial expression of JNK, p-JNK, HSF1, and NFATc4 was increased.

Outcomes measured

• Myocardial structural changes (disorganization/fragmentation/dissolution of myocardial fibers)
• Mitochondrial ultrastructure changes (cavitation)
• Mitochondrial function (flow cytometry)
• Oxidative stress markers in myocardium
• Serum stress hormones
• Heart rate variability (HRV)
• Body weight gain
• Open field behavior (anxiety/depression, exercise capacity)
• Protein expression in myocardium: JNK, p-JNK, HSF1, NFATc4

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
• Frequency (within S-band) not specified in provided abstract/metadata
• No SAR reported in provided abstract/metadata
• Exposure regimen described as simulating long-term/high-power work, but only a 35 min exposure duration is stated in provided abstract/metadata
• Details on control/sham conditions and randomization/blinding not provided in provided abstract/metadata

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.78)
  Study aims to simulate long-term/high-power working environments for special electromagnetic radiation occupations and discusses minimizing risk in special occupational groups.

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    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": "occupational",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "35 min"
    },
    "population": "Rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Myocardial structural changes (disorganization/fragmentation/dissolution of myocardial fibers)",
        "Mitochondrial ultrastructure changes (cavitation)",
        "Mitochondrial function (flow cytometry)",
        "Oxidative stress markers in myocardium",
        "Serum stress hormones",
        "Heart rate variability (HRV)",
        "Body weight gain",
        "Open field behavior (anxiety/depression, exercise capacity)",
        "Protein expression in myocardium: JNK, p-JNK, HSF1, NFATc4"
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    "main_findings": "In rats, exposure to 30 mW/cm2 S-band microwave radiation for 35 min was associated with myocardial fiber disorganization/fragmentation, severe mitochondrial cavitation and dysfunction, oxidative-stress injury in myocardium, increased serum stress hormones, significant HRV changes, and slower weight gain. Open field testing suggested anxiety/depression and decreased exercise capacity after radiation, and myocardial expression of JNK, p-JNK, HSF1, and NFATc4 was increased.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
        "Frequency (within S-band) not specified in provided abstract/metadata",
        "No SAR reported in provided abstract/metadata",
        "Exposure regimen described as simulating long-term/high-power work, but only a 35 min exposure duration is stated in provided abstract/metadata",
        "Details on control/sham conditions and randomization/blinding not provided in provided abstract/metadata"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave radiation",
        "S-band",
        "30 mW/cm2",
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        "myocardium",
        "mitochondria",
        "oxidative stress",
        "stress hormones",
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            "reason": "Study aims to simulate long-term/high-power working environments for special electromagnetic radiation occupations and discusses minimizing risk in special occupational groups."
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}

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