Cytological Studies in Mouse Testis Irradiated with 2.45-GHz Continuous-Wave Microwaves

Conscious mice were irradiated in an anechoic chamber at power densities up to 36 mW/ cm² for periods of up to 30 days (16 hr/day). During irradiation the animals were confined singly in standard cages with access to food and water. Detailed dosimetric studies have been reported previously. The mice were sacrificed serially at intervals ranging from immediately after exposure to 8 weeks later. Three assays which have been proved previously to be reliable and sensitive indicators of testicular damage in water bath-heated mice were employed. These tests quantitate the uptake of trypan blue by a mixed population of unfixed testis cells, the reduction in sperm count, and the increase in percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm. No significant differences were noted in these parameters between control and microwave-exposed animals. It was concluded that the testicular thermoregulatory system is not overcome and cytological changes do not result. Extrapolation of these results to man is dif...