Adaptive response in animals exposed to non-ionizing radiofrequency fields: some underlying mechanisms

Abstract

During the last few years, our research group has been investigating the phenomenon of adaptive response in animals exposed to non-ionizing radiofrequency fields. The results from several separate studies indicated a significant increase in survival, decreases in genetic damage as well as oxidative damage and, alterations in several cellular processes in mice pre-exposed to radiofrequency fields and subsequently subjected to sub-lethal or lethal doses of γ-radiation or injected with bleomycin, a radiomimetic chemical mutagen. These observations indicated the induction of adaptive response providing the animals the ability to resist subsequent damage. Similar studies conducted by independent researchers in mice and rats have supported our observation on increased survival. In this paper, we have presented a brief review of all of our own and other independent investigations on radiofrequency fields-induced adaptive response and some underlying mechanisms discussed.

Figure 1

Molecular mechanisms involved in RF-induced adaptive response. Exposure of animals (and human cells) to non-ionizing radiofrequency fields, given as an adaptive dose, may generate some “stress” which may cause undetectable DNA damage. These may stimulate signal transduction pathways leading to the activation of cell defense mechanisms. The reactive oxygen species induced by ionizing radiation and BLM (the challenge dose) also play a role in the activation of cell defenses through signaling pathways. The activated cell defenses provide the cell the ability to resist high level damages induced by subsequent exposure to ionizing radiation and BLM (as challenge dose).