Low-level microwave irradiation attenuates naloxone-induced withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent rats

The effect of microwave irradiation on naloxone-induced withdrawal syndrome was studied in rats made morphine dependent by subcutaneous implantation of morphine pellets. Morphine-dependent rats were either exposed to pulsed low-level microwaves (2450 MHz, 1 mW/cm 2, 500 pps, 2 μsec pulses) or sham-irradiated for 45 min before the naloxone injection. We found that microwave-exposed rats showed significantly less weg-dog shakes and had higher body temperature than the sham-exposed animals during withdrawal. There was no significant difference in the incident of diarrhea between the two groups of animals. These data further support the results of our previous research suggesting that pulsed low-level microwave irradiation activates endogenous opioids in the rat.