INHIBITION OF THE PRODUCTION OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN MOUSE PERITONEAL NEUTROPHILS BY MILLIMETER-WAVE RADIATION IN THE NEAR AND FAR-FIELD ZONES OF THE RADIATOR

Using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence technique effects of a l ow-intensity electromagnetic field (EMF) of extremely high frequency o n the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mouse peritoneal neutrophils was studied. The neutrophils were activated by opsonized z ymosan. It was found that the EMF inhibits the ROS production by the n eutrophils. However, in the near field zone of the channel radiator a quasi-resonance inhibition of the ROS production was observed in a nar row band of frequencies (41.8-42.05 GHz). On the other hand, no freque ncy dependence of the EMF effect in the far field zone of the radiator was found. The data suggest that the quasi-resonance dependence of th e ROS inhibition on the EMF frequency in the near field zone of the ra diator could be conditioned by some peculiarities of the structure and nature of the EMF in this zone. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.