Human cell recovery after microwave irradiation

TL;DR

This study investigates how human buccal epithelial cells respond and recover from microwave radiation exposure, showing reversible chromatin condensation and membrane permeability changes within hours.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the cellular recovery process after microwave irradiation, highlighting the reversibility of chromatin and membrane alterations in human cells.

Findings

Chromatin condensation increases after irradiation and returns to normal within hours.

Membrane permeability to vital dyes increases post-irradiation and recovers over time.

Cells demonstrate the ability to recover from microwave-induced cellular changes.

Abstract

Cells of human buccal epithelium of 6 male donors were exposed to microwave radiation (frequency f=36,64 GHz, power density E = 10, 100, and 400 mcW/cm^2). Exposure time in all experiments was 10 seconds. Heterochromatin was stained by 2% orcein in 45 % acetic acid. The stainability of cells with trypan blue (0,5 %) and indigocarmine (5 mM) after 5 min of staining was investigated. Irradiation induced chromatin condensation (increase of number of heterochromatin granules) and increase of membrane permeability to vital dyes trypan blue and indigocarmine. Isolated human buccal cells had shown the ability to recover these changes. Number of heterochromatin granules lowered to initial level after 0,5 hour (E = 10 mcW/cm^2) and 2 hours (E = 100, and 400 mcW/cm^2) after irradiation. Cell plasma membrane permeability recovered a bit later, in correspondence, after 1 hour and 3 hours after irradiation.