Microwave-Induced Hyperthermia Disrupts Working Memory and Evokes SelectiveExpression on Brain C-Fos

摘要

We tested remembering of recently explored objects to determine changes inworking memory following exposure to 600Mhz microwave radiation. Brain/rectal temperatures and expression of the early proto-oncogene c-fos were also measured. Rats exposed to 10,9.3, 8.5., or 5 W/kg microwaves exhibited a reliable brain hyperthermia compared with nonirradiated controls rats. Only the 9.3 and lOW/kg treatments produced a significant memory disruption. There was a noticeable difference in the distribution of c-fos between the normothermic and hyperthermic groups. These data suggest that working memory may be disrupted by microwave-induced hyperthermia. However, brain temperatures must be raised approximately 2.0 C before this amnesia is observed. The pattern of expression of c-fos may suggest candidate brain nuclei that mediate the behavioral changes we observed following microwave-induced hyperthermia.