Evaluation of basal DNA damage and oxidative stress in Wistar rat leukocytes after exposure to microwave radiation

The aim of this study was to assess whether microwave-induced DNA damage is basal or it is also generated through reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. After having irradiated Wistar rats with 915 MHz microwave radiation, we assessed different DNA alterations in peripheral leukocytes using standard and formamidopyrimidine DNA-glycosylase (Fpg)-modified comet assay. The first is a sensitive tool for detecting primary DNA damage, and the second is much more specific for detecting oxidative damage. The animals were irradiated for 1 h a day for 2 weeks at a field power density of 2.4 W/m(2), and the whole-body average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.6 W/kg. Both the standard and the Fpg-modified comet assay detected increased DNA damage in blood leukocytes of the exposed rats. The significant increase in Fpg-detected DNA damage in the exposed rats suggests that oxidative stress is likely to be responsible. DNA damage detected by the standard comet assay indicates that some other mechanisms may also be involved. In addition, both methods served proved sensitive enough to measure basal and oxidative DNA damage after long-term exposure to 915 MHz microwave radiation in vivo. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.