Effects of different dose microwave radiation on protein components of cultured rabbit lens

Wang KJ, Yao K, Lu DQ

Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi, 25(4):208-210, 2007

[Article in Chinese]

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of different dose microwave radiation on protein components of cultured rabbit lens, and analyze the mechanisms of lens injury caused by microwave radiation.

METHODS: Cultured rabbit lens were exposed to microwave radiation with frequency of 2450 MHz and power density of 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 5.00 mW/cm² for 8 hours in vitro. The transparency of lens was observed.

Changes of protein concentration were detected after different lens protein components were extracted, including water-soluble protein (WSP), urea soluble protein (USP), alkali soluble protein (ASP) and sonicated protein (SP).

The influence of microwave radiation on WSP was analyzed using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and coomassie-blue staining.

RESULTS: Transparency of lens decreased after radiation. There was obvious opacification of lens cortex after 5.00 mW/cm² microwave radiation for 8 hours. After 1.00, 2.00 and 5.00 mW/cm² radiation, the percentage of WSP decreased while USP increased obviously. There was no change of ASP.

The percentage of SP decreased when the power of microwave was 5.00 mW/cm². The low molecular weight protein of WSP decreased while high molecular weight protein increased after microwave radiation.

CONCLUSION: Microwave radiation higher than 1.00 mW/cm² can affect the proportion of WSP and USP in cultured rabbit lens, and cause changes of lens transparency and refractive power, which leads to lens opacity.