Effect of single exposure to microwaves on quantity and functional properties of T and B lymphocytes of guinea pig and mouse spleen

Parameters of cellular immunity of animals at different intervals following single exposure to microwaves of thermal intensity were studied. The first series of experiments was performed with guinea pigs weighing 300 to 400 g, who were submitted to single total body exposure to microwaves in the reactive zone using a Luch 58 unit (frequency 2375 MHz, distance from emitting antenna horn 30 cm, output power 100 W, exposure 15 min). As a result of such exposure, the animals' body temperature rose by 4 to 4.5 C. Immediately after irradiation, as well as 1, 4, 7, and 21 days later, the animals were sacrificed the spleen was excised under sterile conditions and a pooled suspension of spleen cells from 3 to 5 animals was obtained, which was then used to assess spontaneous and concanavalin A induced lymphocyte blast transformation by recording radioactivity of H3 thymidine incorporated in DNA.