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Naltrexone pretreatment blocks microwave-induced changes in central cholinergic receptors.

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Lai H, Carino MA, Wen YF, Horita A, Guy AW · 1991

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Naltrexone pretreatment blocked microwave-induced changes in central cholinergic receptors in rats.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Rats were repeatedly exposed to pulsed, circularly polarized microwaves at 2,450 MHz with 2-microsecond pulses at 500 pps, a power density of 1 mW/cm², and a whole-body SAR of 0.6 W/kg. Ten 45-minute sessions increased muscarinic cholinergic receptor concentration in the hippocampus, while ten 20-minute sessions decreased concentration in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Pretreatment with naltrexone at 1 mg/kg IP before each exposure session blocked these microwave-induced changes in cholinergic receptors.

Why This Matters

The study aimed to investigate whether naltrexone pretreatment blocks microwave-induced changes in central cholinergic receptors. The authors concluded that the data support the hypothesis that endogenous opioids play a role in microwave effects on central cholinergic systems.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.6 W/kg
Power Density
1 mW/cm²
Source/Device
2450 MHz
Exposure Duration
Ten 20-min sessions.

Exposure Context

This study used 1 mW/cm² for radio frequency:

This study used 0.6 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 1 mW/cm²Extreme Concern - 1,000 µW/m²FCC Limit - 10M µW/m²Effects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.45 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.45 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate Naltrexone pretreatment blocks microwave-induced changes in central cholinergic receptors.

Repeated exposure of rats to pulsed, circularly polarized microwaves (2,450-MHz, 2-microseconds puls...

These findings, which confirm earlier work in the authors' laboratory, were extended to include pretreatment of rats with the narcotic antagonist naltrexone (1 mg/kg, IP) before each session of exposure. The drug treatment blocked the microwave-induced changes in cholinergic receptors in the brain. These data further support the authors' hypothesis that endogenous opioids play a role in the effects of microwaves on central cholinergic systems.

Cite This Study
Lai H, Carino MA, Wen YF, Horita A, Guy AW (1991). Naltrexone pretreatment blocks microwave-induced changes in central cholinergic receptors. Bioelectromagnetics 12(1):27-33, 1991.
Show BibTeX
@article{h_1991_naltrexone_pretreatment_blocks_microwaveinduced_1134,
  author = {Lai H and Carino MA and Wen YF and Horita A and Guy AW},
  title = {Naltrexone pretreatment blocks microwave-induced changes in central cholinergic receptors.},
  year = {1991},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2012619/},
}
PubMed: 2012619

Cited By (39 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Rats were exposed to pulsed, circularly polarized microwaves at 2,450 MHz with 2-microsecond pulses at 500 pps, a power density of 1 mW/cm², and a whole-body SAR of 0.6 W/kg.
Ten 45-minute sessions increased receptor concentration in the hippocampus, while ten 20-minute sessions decreased concentration in the frontal cortex and hippocampus.
Naltrexone pretreatment at 1 mg/kg IP before each session blocked the microwave-induced changes in cholinergic receptors.
The data support the hypothesis that endogenous opioids play a role in the effects of microwaves on central cholinergic systems.
Naltrexone was administered at 1 mg/kg intraperitoneally before each exposure session.