Effect of prenatal and postnatal microwave exposures on relative activity of SDH of brain and liver in newborn mice

Pregnant mice were irradiated with 3 GHz pulse microwave at 8 mW/cm2 (SAR 3.0-3.5 mW/g) and part of their offspring were irradiated at 1 mW/cm2. The effects on the mitochondria marker enzyme SDH of brain and liver in the newborn mice were observed. SDH was quanlitatively determined by microspectrophotometry. The results show that a decrease in the relative activity of SDH in brain was induced by either prenatal or postnatal microwave exposure (p < 0.01). The greatest decrease in the relative activity of SDH occurred in the offspring exposed both prenatally and postnatally. The similar but less changes in the activity of SDH occurred in liver of these mice. The results indicate that the brain SDH is a sensitive index to observe the subtle metabolic alterations which can not be detected using conventional morphologic teratologic procedures. It is suggested that pregnant women should be protected from high power density microwave exposure