Hyperactivity caused by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor is countered by ultra-wideband pulses.

Potential action of ultra-wideband (UWB) electromagnetic field pulses on effects of N(G)-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), on nociception and locomotor activity was investigated in CF-1 mice. Animals were injected IP with saline or 50 mg/kg L-NAME and exposed for 30 min to no pulses (sham exposure) or UWB pulses with electric field parameters of 102+/-1 kV/m peak amplitude, 0.90+/-0.05 ns duration, and 160+/-5 ps rise time (mean+/-S.D.) at 600/s. Animals were tested for thermal nociceptive responses on a 50 degrees C surface and for spontaneous locomotor activity for 5 min. L-NAME by itself increased mean first-response (paw lift, shake, or lick; jump) and back-paw-lick response latencies and mean locomotor activity. Exposure to UWB pulses reduced the L-NAME-induced increase in back-paw-lick latency by 22%, but this change was not statistically significant. The L-NAME-induced hyperactivity was not present after UWB exposure. Reduction and cancellation of effects of L-NAME suggest activation of opposing mechanism(s) by the UWB pulses, possibly including increase of nitric oxide production by NOS. The action, or actions, of UWB pulses appears to be more effective on locomotor activity than on thermal nociception in CF-1 mice.

Frequency of micronuclei in the blood and bone marrow cells of mice exposed to ultra-wideband electromagnetic radiation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the extent of genetic damage in the peripheral blood and bone marrow cells of mice exposed to ultra-wideband electromagnetic radiation (UWBR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CF-1 male mice were exposed to UWBR for 15 min at an estimated whole-body average specific absorption rate of 37 mW x kg(-1). Groups of untreated control and positive control mice injected with mitomycin C were also included in the study. After various treatments, half of the mice were killed at 18 h, and the other half at 24 h. Peripheral blood and bone marrow smears were examined to determine the extent of genotoxicity, as assessed by the presence of micronuclei (MN) in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE). RESULTS: The percentages of PCE and the incidence of MN per 2000 PCE in both tissues in mice killed at 18 h were similar to the frequencies observed in mice terminated at 24 h. There were no significant differences in the percentage of PCE between control and the mice with or without UWBR exposure; the group mean values (+/- standard deviation) were in the range of 3.1+/-0.14 to 3.2+/-0.23 in peripheral blood, and 49.0+/-3.56 to 52.3+/-4.02 in bone marrow. The mean incidence of MN per 2000 PCE in control and in mice with or without UWBR exposure ranged from 7.7+/-2.00 to 9.7+/-2.54 in peripheral blood and 7.4+/-2.32 to 10.0+/-3.27 in bone marrow. Pairwise comparison of the data did not reveal statistically significant differences between the control and mice with or without UWBR exposure groups (excluding positive controls). CONCLUSION: Under the experimental conditions tested, there was no evidence for excess genotoxicity in peripheral blood or bone marrow cells of mice exposed to UWBR.

Ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses and morphine-induced changes in nociception and activity in mice.

Mice were exposed to ultra-wideband (UWB) electromagnetic pulses averaging 99-105 kV/m peak amplitude, 0.97-1.03 ns duration, and 155-174 ps rise time, after intraperitoneal administration of saline or morphine sulfate. They were then tested for thermal nociception on a 50 degrees C surface and for spontaneous locomotor activity and its time profile over 5 min. Analysis of results showed no effect of UWB exposure on nociception and activity measures in CF-1 mice after 15-, 30-, or 45-min exposure to pulses at 600/s or after 30-min exposure to UWB pulses at 60/s. Similarly, no effect was seen in C57BL/6 mice after 30-min exposure to pulses at 60/s or 600/s. Although trends in morphine-modified measures seen with UWB pulse repetition frequency could be expected because of increased levels of low-frequency energy, no significant change was seen in normal or morphine-modified nociception or activity after UWB exposure. This indicated lack of effect of the UWB pulses used in these experiments on nervous system components, including endogenous opioids, involved in these behaviors.

Ultra-wide band electromagnetic radiation does not affect UV-induced recombination and mutagenesis in yeast.

Cell samples of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were exposed to 100 J/m2 of 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) radiation followed by a 30 min treatment with ultra-wide band (UWB) electromagnetic pulses. The UWB pulses (101-104 kV/m, 1.0 ns width, 165 ps rise time) were applied at the repetition rates of 0 Hz (sham), 16 Hz, or 600 Hz. The effect of exposures was evaluated from the colony-forming ability of the cells on complete and selective media and the number of aberrant colonies. The experiments established no effect of UWB exposure on the UV-induced reciprocal and non-reciprocal recombination, mutagenesis, or cell survival.