"Animals

A total of 480 male and female Fisher 344 rats (Harlan Bioproducts, Indianapolis, IN) were selected for this study. The study was reviewed and approved by the Washington University Animal Studies Committee, and care of the animals was according to the National Research Council Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Rats were purchased when 4 weeks old and were entered in the study when 6 weeks old, after a 2-week period of stabilization. Rats were housed in groups of two or three depending on size according to space recommendations in the National Research Council Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. They were maintained under a 12:12-h light cycle at a room temperature of 228C 6 18C. Humidity ranged from 40–50%. At the end of the quarantine/acclimation period, the rats were identified individually and uniquely by placing a tattoo at the base of the tail and were then placed into weight distribution groups by sex for randomization into the treatment groups. The body weight ranges were between 100 and 150 g for males and between 100 and 140 g for females. Eighty male and 80 female rats were placed randomly in each of three irradiation groups: the sham group received no irradiation; the FDMA group was exposed to 835.62 MHz FDMA; the CDMA group was exposed to 847.74 MHz CDMA. Exposure began when the animals were 6 weeks old. All animals in each group were placed in their respective chambers and were irradiated for a total of 4 h each day, 5 days a week during the subsequent 2-year study period (excluding holidays, weekends and 10 working days), for a total of 505 irradiation days out of 730 study days. During the study, individual animal weights for the test and control groups were recorded on day 1 and at least once each month thereafter. Each animal was examined formally for clinical/neurological signs once each month. The rats were monitored daily for general appearance and water and food intake. Each animal was maintained on this irradiation schedule until the end of the 2-year study or until an animal was euthanized and necropsied due to illness as identified by specific criteria. The main clinical parameters for euthanasia were: (1) the animal was weak, dehydrated and unable to move, or (2) body weight loss was in excess of 20%. Sentinel rats were kept in each room to monitor for infectious disease. Sentinel rats were evaluated quarterly for viral, parasitic and bacterial diseases."

Fischer 344 rats, female

HAWC