Exposure to low-intensity microwave radiation for prolonged periods is known to be a potential factor inducing visceral damage. There are several studies in the literature demonstrating the harmful effects of such radiation on the kidney of laboratory animals. Our aim was to determine the effect of low intensity microwave radiation on rat kidney at the light and electron microscopic level. Animals (28 rats) in the experiment group were exposed to 2.65 mW/cm 2 radition (9450 MHz) for 1 h per day during 26 and 52 days respectively and tissue samples of these animals were examined and compared with those of the control group. At the light microscopic level most significant changes were observed in the 52.0-days exposure group. In the renal tubular epithelium there was extensive apical vesiculation almost totally obliterating the lumen. Cytoplasmic vacuolization of the epithelial cells was not prominent in the 26.0-day group but also became most significant in the 52.0-day group. Degenerative changes in the kidney glomeruli were also most prominent in the 52.0-day group at light and electron microscopic levels. At the ultrastructural level renal tubular epithelium and glomeruli reflected features of early necrotic changes gradually increasing as the exposure period increased. Glomerular sclerosis was the end stage of these degenerative changes as clearly outlined at the ultrastructural level. Our findings clearly demonstrate the harmful effects of low-intensity microwave radiation on kidney parenchyma in an exposure-period dependent manner.

Exposure to low-intensity microwave radiation for prolonged periods is known to be a potential factor inducing visceral damage. There are several studies in the literature demonstrating the harmful effects of such radiation on the kidney of laboratory animals. Our aim was to determine the effect of low intensity microwave radiation on rat kidney at the light and electron microscopic level. Animals (28 rats) in the experiment group were exposed to 2.65 mW/cm 2 radition (9450 MHz) for 1 h per day during 26 and 52 days respectively and tissue samples of these animals were examined and compared with those of the control group. At the light microscopic level most significant changes were observed in the 52.0-days exposure group. In the renal tubular epithelium there was extensive apical vesiculation almost totally obliterating the lumen. Cytoplasmic vacuolization of the epithelial cells was not prominent in the 26.0-day group but also became most significant in the 52.0-day group. Degenerative changes in the kidney glomeruli were also most prominent in the 52.0-day group at light and electron microscopic levels. At the ultrastructural level renal tubular epithelium and glomeruli reflected features of early necrotic changes gradually increasing as the exposure period increased. Glomerular sclerosis was the end stage of these degenerative changes as clearly outlined at the ultrastructural level. Our findings clearly demonstrate the harmful effects of low-intensity microwave radiation on kidney parenchyma in an exposure-period dependent manner.