Biochemical changes in the intervertebral discs after electromagnetic radiation: An experimental study [Elektromanyetik radyasyondan sonra İntervertebral disklerdeki biyokimyasal deǧişiklikler: Deneysel çali{dotless}şma]

Objective: we investigated the intervertebral discs in a rat electromagnetic radiation (emr) model to demonstrate that electromagnetic radiation is a cause of degenerative intervertebral discs. methods: rats were randomly divided into four groups: group i consisted of control rats,and groups ii-iv comprised electromagnetically irradiated with 900,1800 and 2400 mhz. the rats were placed into a specially designed mechanism,and their heads were exposed to 900,1800 and 2400 mhz microwaves irradiation for 1 h per day for 2 months. the control group rats were placed into same system. the same procedure was applied to the control group while the rats were not exposed to the electromagnetic waves. results: the intervertebral disc interleukin-1β levels as well as the total antioxidative capacity (tac) and total oxidative capacity (tos) values in the emr groups (900,1800,2400 mhz) were higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). in the emr groups,group ii intervertebral disc interleukin-1β levels and tac were not significantly different from those in group iii (p>0.05). group ii intervertebral disc tos was significantly different from that in groups iii and iv (p<0.05). in the oxidative stress index (osi) comparisons,group ii was significantly different from groups i,iii and iv (p<0.05). conclusions: electromagnetic radiation increased the intervertebral disc release of inflammatory cytokine il-1β and oxidative radicals. this process can lead to degeneration of intervertebral disc.