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Modest increase in temperature affects ODC activity in L929 cells: low-level radiofrequency radiation does not

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Abstract

The effects of low-level radiofrequency (RF) radiation and elevated temperature on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity were investigated in murine L929 fibroblasts. The cells were exposed at 900 MHz either to a pulse-modulated (pulse frequency 217 Hz; GSM-type modulation) or a continuous wave signal at specific absorption rate (SAR) levels of 0.2 W kg−1 (0.1–0.3 W kg−1) and 0.4 W kg−1 (0.3–0.5 W kg−1) for 2, 8, or 24 h. RF radiation did not affect cellular ODC activity. However, a slight increase in temperature (0.8–0.9°C) in the exposure system lead to decreased ODC activity in cell cultures. This was verified by tests in which cells were exposed to different temperatures in incubators. The results show that ODC activity is sensitive to small temperature differences in cell cultures. Hence, a precise temperature control in cellular ODC activity studies is needed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Ms. Hanne Vainikainen for her excellent technical assistance. Contract grant sponsors: The National Technology Agency (TEKES) Finland, the GSM Association, and the Mobile Manufacturers Forum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio, 70211, Finland

    A. Höytö, J. Juutilainen & J. Naarala

  2. Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), Helsinki, Finland

    A. -P. Sihvonen

  3. A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland

    L. Alhonen

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  1. A. Höytö
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  2. A. -P. Sihvonen
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  3. L. Alhonen
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  4. J. Juutilainen
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  5. J. Naarala
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Correspondence to A. Höytö.

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Höytö, A., Sihvonen, A.P., Alhonen, L. et al. Modest increase in temperature affects ODC activity in L929 cells: low-level radiofrequency radiation does not. Radiat Environ Biophys 45, 231–235 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-006-0053-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-006-0053-4

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