Effect of High Power Terahertz Irradiation on Platelet Aggregation and Behavioral Reactions of Albino Rats

Abstract

Intensive terahertz irradiation at the nitric oxide emission and absorption spectrum frequencies (150.176-150.664 GHz) applied for 60 min to male albino rats subjected to acute immobilization stress enhanced platelet aggregation and induced signs of depression.

Invited Review Article: Current State of Research on Biological Effects of Terahertz Radiation

“…To date, the only THz bioeffects study performed on mice was conducted in 2008 by Bondar et al [156]. Similar to their work where they used a rat model [153], this group postulated that THz radiation exposures may cause behavioral effects (i.e. anxiety) in mice.…”

“…Similar to their 2008 work, Kirichuk et al conducted a second study to investigate whether THz irradiated albino rats exhibited both enhanced platelet aggregation and behavioral alterations (i.e. depression) [153]. To test this hypothesis, rats were exposed to THz radiation using a microwave generator: 0.15 THz, 3 mWcm −2 , and exposure durations of 15, 30 or 60 min (Table 1).…”

“…Rats (n=75) were then randomized into several groups: control, immobilized and not THz irradiated, immobilized and THz irradiated (15 min), immobilized and THz irradiated (30 min). THz treatments were delivered with the source described in [153] using the following parameters: 0.15 THz, 0.7 mWcm −2 , and 15 or 30 min exposure durations (Table 1). After exposures, blood was extracted and evaluated using several indices for LPO and antioxidant levels: lipid hydroperoxides, SH-groups, SOD, and vitamin E. The results of this study indicate that rats exposed to THz radiation for 30 min exhibited statistically significant changes in several intermediate products of LPO and blood antioxidant activity.…”

Biomedical Applications of Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging

“…Behavioral alterations, such as increased levels of depression (0.15 THz, 3 mW/cm 2 [ 2 1 _ T D $ D I F F ] , 60 min) [94], were observed in a mouse model. Moreover, inflammatory responses and perturbation of the woundhealing process in mouse skin under THz irradiation have also been verified [95,96].…”

Regulatory effects of terahertz waves

“…It had been indicated that a high power THz irradiation (60-minutes) of MEAS of NO (150.176-150.664 GHz) in male rats under the acute immobilization stress, leads to a depression of a motion activity. This was evident from a statistically valid increase of a total time that animals had spent in Small Labyrinth, and a total time of animals' washing process [36,37].…”