Currently, the impact of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on the nervous system is an increasingly arousing public concern. The present study was designed to explore the effects of continuous long-term exposure to L-band high-power microwave (L-HPM) on brain function and related mechanisms. Forty-eight male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were exposed to L-HPM at various power densities (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 W/m²) and the brain function was examined at different time periods after exposure. The morphology of the brain was examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Furthermore, cholinergic markers, oxidative stress markers, and the expression of c-fos were evaluated to identify a “potential” mechanism. The results showed that exposure to L-HPM at 1.5 W/m² can cause generalized injuries in the hippocampus (CA1 and CA3) and cerebral cortex (the first somatosensory cortex) of mice, including cell apoptosis, cholinergic dysfunction, and oxidative damage. Moreover, the deleterious effects were closely related to the power density and exposure time, indicating that long-term and high-power density exposure may be detrimental to the nervous system.

中文翻译：

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长期暴露于L波段高功率微波对雄性小鼠脑功能的影响

目前，电磁场（EMF）暴露对神经系统的影响越来越引起公众的关注。本研究旨在探讨持续长期暴露于 L 波段高功率微波 (L-HPM) 对大脑功能和相关机制的影响。48 只雄性癌症研究所 (ICR) 小鼠暴露于不同功率密度（0.5、1.0 和 1.5 W/m ²)，并在暴露后的不同时间段检查大脑功能。通过苏木精-伊红 (HE) 和脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的 dUTP 缺口末端标记 (TUNEL) 染色检查大脑的形态。此外，还评估了胆碱能标志物、氧化应激标志物和 c-fos 的表达，以确定“潜在”机制。结果表明，暴露于 1.5 W/m ^{2 的}L-HPM会导致小鼠海马（CA1 和 CA3）和大脑皮层（第一躯体感觉皮层）的全身性损伤，包括细胞凋亡、胆碱能功能障碍和氧化损伤。此外，有害影响与功率密度和暴露时间密切相关，表明长期和高功率密度暴露可能对神经系统有害。