Assessment of immune function development in mice irradiated in utero with 2450-MHz microwaves.

Groups of time-bred pregnant mice were irradiated with 2450-MHz microwaves at an incident power density of 28 mW/cm2 for 100 min daily from day 6 to day 18 of pregnancy. The average specific absorption rate (SAR) was 16.5 W/kg. Two experiments were performed under these conditions. At 3 and 6 weeks of age the mice were assessed for development of the primary immune response to sheep erythrocytes, in vitro mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, and natural killer (NK) cell activity. No consistent significant difference in the primary immune response, in the mitogen response, or in the NK cell activity was observed between irradiated and sham-irradiated mice.