Turmeric extract decreased frequency of polychromatic erythrocytes micronuclei induced by iodine-131

Background: Ionizing radiation irradiated from iodine-131 can induce DNA damage and cell death. The cellular DNA damage is the cause of mutation and cancer. The micronucleus assay in polychromatic erythrocytes was applied to assess the radio-protective effect of Turmeric extract on genotoxic potential of iodine therapy. Materials and Methods: Thirty six male albino rats were randomly divided in six groups. A single dose [200 or 500 mg/kg] of Turmeric extract was injected to the rats 30 min before iodine therapy. Iodine-131 [5.55 MBq] was administrated intra peritoneal to the experimental animals. The percentage of micronuclei in PCE, NCE and ratio of PCE / [PCE + NCE] was determined 48 h after iodine injection for each experimental group to assess iodine-131 radiation effects with or without Turmeric extract. Results: Iodine therapy showed a significant increase in the number of micronucleus formation. The animals treated with different doses of Turmeric extract + iodine showed a significant reduction in the frequency of micronucleus compared to the animals treated with iodine-131 alone. Both doses of Turmeric extract had the same effect when injected 30 min prior to iodine therapy. Conclusion: Our results indicate protective effect of Turmeric extract against genetic damages induced by iodine-131 administration

Does whole body exposure to GSM-950 MHz electromagnetic fields affect acquisition and consolidation of spatial information in rats?

This study was planned to examine the effects of whole-body exposure to GSM-950 MHz electromagnetic fields [EMFs] on acquisition and consolidation of spatial memory in rats using a water maze task. In experiment 1, the animals were given two blocks of five trials per day for three consecutive days in a water maze task. The interval between blocks was 4h. Before each training session, the animals were exposed to 950 MHz EMFs for 45 min with lower-[0.835 mW/cm[2]] or higher-power [1.166 mW/cm[2]] densities. In experiment 2, the animals were given two blocks of 5 trials with a 3 min interval between blocks. Immediately after the last trial, they were exposed to EMFs for 45 min with lower-or higher-power densities. In both experiments, 48 h after the last training day a 60 s probe test was done. Results from experiment1 [pre-training exposure to EMFs] indicated no significant differences in performances of exposed and non-exposed groups either during acquisition [learning] or during probe test [memory retention]. Results from experiment 2 [post training exposure to EMFs] also indicated no significant differences among groups during acquisition or probe test. In these experiments, no effect of exposure to 950 MHz on acquisition or consolidation of spatial navigation of rats in a water maze was detected

Low-power density of 950 MHz rediation does not affect long-term potentiation in rat dentate gyrus

Over the last decade, exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic waves due to base station antenna has increased. This in vivo study was planned for evaluating the effects of whole-body exposure to 950 MHz field of GSM mobile phone system on rat dentate gyrus long-term potentiation. 24 naive male Wistar rats [3 month old, 225 +/- 25 g] were randomly divided in the three groups [sham-exposed, GSM and continuous field exposed]. The exposure program was planned for 10 sessions at 3 days. Animals were exposed to electromagnetic field for 45 minutes in a circular plastic chamber [mean power density=0.835 mW/cm[2]]. Immediately after end exposure, anesthesia was induced for long term potentiation [LTP] induction. Field potentials were recorded and analyzed using the population spike amplitude and EPSP slope for 60- min. There were no significant differences in population spike amplitude, EPSP slope and EPSP slope maintenance among the three groups. This study provides no evidence indicating that long-term potentiation can be affected by the whole-body exposure to low-power density of 950 MHz field of GSM mobile phone system

[ effect of GSM mobile phone base station waves on hippocampus synaptic plasticity]

Over the last decade, exposure to electromagnetic waves due to base station antenna has increased. This in vivo study was planned for evaluating the effects of 950 MHz waves of GSM mobile phone system on dentate gyrus long-term potentiation. 32 naive male Wistar rats [3 months old, 220 +/- 15 g] were randomly divided into four groups [sham-exposed, continuous 950 MHz, 950 MHz with modulation and 950 MHz GSM field exposed]. The exposure program was planned for 10 sessions at 3 days. Animals were exposed to electromagnetic field for 45min in a circular plastic chamber [mean electric field = 50.4 V/m]. Immediately after ending exposure, anesthesia was induced for LTP induction. Field potentials were recorded and analyzed using the population spike amplitude, EPSP slope, EPSP slope maintenance and EPSP duration for 60-min. There were no significant differences in population spike amplitude, EPSP slope and EPSP slope maintenance and EPSP duration among the four groups. This experiment provides no evidence indicating that rat's long-term potentiation can be affected by the whole-body exposure to 950 MHz field of GSM mobile phone system

interaction of radiation and intercalating agents in normal bone marrow cells as evaluated by spleen colony assay technique: the effects of bleomycin sulfate and actinomycin D

The relationship between the way in which normal hemopoietic stem cells respond to irradiation alone or in the presence of bleomycin sulfate [BLM-S] and actinomycin D [ACT-D] was investigated. Single doses of BLM-S at 0.3 mg/kg and ACT-D at 0.10 mg/kg body weight were injected intravenously 1-6 hours prior to whole body irradiation and treatment was repeated twice more with time intervals. When assessed by survival of spleen colony forming units [CFU-S] of bone marrow cells [BMC], BLM-S alone caused only 10% reduction in survival compared to controls. There was not a significant difference in survival fraction [SF] when treatment with BLM-S was repeated twice more. On the other hand, ACT-D alone caused a 45% reduction in SF after the first injection and only a 10% reduction after the third injection. Increase in survival might be due to resistance induced in BMC after treatments with the drugs. The difference between the 'SF of BMC of mice exposed to doses of 1-3 Gy whole body irradiation was statistically significant with a p-value <0.05. When used in combination with radiation, neither BLM-S nor ACT-D caused a synergistic or additive effect. Although survival was seen to be lower for ACT-D treated animals, the effect was not as pronounced as expected. A significant change in the results was also not observed for fractionated doses of gamma rays in the presence of BLM-S and ACT-D injected at various time intervals. Results obtained from the administration of drugs at various time intervals before irradiation does not suggest a specific time for drug treatment prior to irradiation. These results also suggest that no potentiating effect is likely to be produced by a combination of BLM-S or ACT-D and radiation therapy in bone marrow cells. We therefore believe that these drugs induce a modest resistive response to the effects of radiation on bone marrow cells by a mechanism which is not yet understood. Therefore, using this agent repeatedly for Cancer treatment might not cause severe adverse biological effects in bone marrow stem cells