In this study, the influence of 2450 MHz CW microwave radiation on hematopoiesis in pregnant mice was examined. Dams (mice CD-1 strain) were irradiated during Days 1-6 or 6-15 of pregnancy. The animals were irradiated for a total of 8 hr per day (two 4-hr exposures in 9 hr) at an average power density of 30 mW/cm2. Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were obtained on Day 18 of pregnancy. The total leukocyte and differential leukocyte counts of peripheral blood samples were not affected by either exposure regimen. In addition, no effects were noted in either the erythroid or myeloid mitotic indices of bone marrow samples. Exposure of pregnant mice to microwave radiation under the conditions of these experiments had no effects on the investigated aspects of hematopoiesis.

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Hepatic lysosomes were exposed in vitro to microwave radiation (2450 MHz) either prior to or simultaneously with treatment with retinol (vitamin A), and the release of the lysosomal enzymes, beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase, and cathepsin D, determined. A 60-min microwave exposure (10 or 100 mW/g) of retinol-treated lysosomes had no effect on the amount of release of beta-glucuronidase, cathepsin D, or acid phosphatase. In addition, 10 and 100 mW/g irradiation of lysosome fractions for 40 min prior to a 20-min retinol and microwave treatment, had no influence on the release of these enzymes. Finally, the effect of microwave radiation on the loss of latency of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase from retinol-treated lysosomes was determined. Microwave radiation had no influence on the rate of appearance of these enzymes in the suspending medium. The results indicate that microwave radiation had no effect on the retinol-induced lysosomal enzyme release.

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 2.45 GHz CW radiation for 3 h daily from day 4 through day 20 of pregnancy at an average power density of 10.3 mW/cm2. At 2, 10, 20, and 30 d postpartum, several aspects of peripheral blood hematology of male and female pups were examined. No effects were noted on pregnancy rate or litter size; however, pup weight was reduced. Also, the white blood cell numbers were lower in male and female pups exposed to microwave radiation and the differential cell counts were altered in the female pups at 10 d postpartum. At 30 d of age, no differences were noted between the sham and exposed pups for any of the hematologic variables examined.