Thermoregulatory Responses of Febrile Monkeys during Microwave Exposure^a

Abstract

We have examined experimentally the question of increased vulnerability to the thermalizing effects of MW exposure during febrile illness. In a controlled ambient temperature of 26 degrees C, autonomic mechanisms of heat production and heat loss were measured in febrile squirrel monkeys during 30-min exposures to 450 or 2450 MHz CW MW fields at different phases of the fever cycle (induction, plateau, defervescence). We have shown that MW energy absorbed during a febrile episode spares endogenous energy production, but may augment the fever if deposited deep in the body, as is the case during exposure at the resonant frequency. The fever may also be exacerbated if the MW exposure occurs late in the febrile episode, a condition that may put an organism at some risk, especially if the field strength exceeds safety guidelines.

The Effects of Single and Repeated Exposure to 2.45 GHz Radiofrequency Fields on c-Fos Protein Expression in the Paraventricular Nucleus of Rat Hypothalamus

“…Several studies of brain activity have demonstrated that electromagnetic fields provoke responses in the central nervous system, alter bioelectric activity in the brain [50,51] modify the duration, intervals and regularity of the excitability of neurons in the supraoptic nucleus [52] or produce changes sometimes associated with observed from small increases in temperature (0.2-0.3°C), which are sufficient to activate thermoregulatory centres in the hypothalamus [53,54]. Radiofrequency that causes thermal stress has been observed to cause alterations in the concentrations of amino acids [55].…”

Thermoregulatory responses to RF energy absorption

“…When a pyrogen is introduced into the body and the set point elevated, the thermoregulatory controller mobilizes any response appropriate to increase heat storage [Stitt, 1979]. Adair et al [1997] suggested that a febrile animal might utilize RF energy to generate a fever in response to an injection of pyrogen into the hypothalamus, thereby sparing metabolic energy stores. Squirrel monkeys were implanted with Delrin injection cannulae and reentrant tubes in the PO/AH.…”