J Cutan Pathol 2003: 30: 135–138 Copyright C Blackwell Munksgaard 2003 Blackwell Munksgaard . Printed in Denmark Journal of Cutaneous Pathology ISSN 0303-6987 Effects of electromagnetic radiation from a cellular telephone on epidermal Merkel cells The number of reports on the effects induced by electromagnetic M. Kemal Irmak 1 , Emin Oztas 1 , radiation (EMR) from cellular telephones in various cellular systems Murat Yagmurca 2 , is still increasing. Until now, no satisfactory mechanism has been Ersin Fadillioglu 3 and proposed to explain the biological effects of this radiation except a Bilal Bakir 4 role suggested for mast cells. Merkel cells may also play a role in the 1 Department of Histology and mechanisms of biological effects of EMR. This study was undertaken Embryology,Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara; Departments of 2 Histology and to investigate the influence of EMR from a cellular telephone (900 Embryology, and 3 Physiology, Faculty of MHz) on Merkel cells in rats. A group of rats was exposed to a Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya; and cellular telephone in speech position for 30 min. Another group of rats 4 Department of Public Health, Gulhane Military was sham-exposed under the same environmental conditions for 30 Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey min. Exposure led to significantly higher exocytotic activity in Merkel cells compared with the sham exposure group. This finding may indicate the possible role of Merkel cells in the pathophysiology of the Kemal Irmak, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, effects of EMR. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, 06018-Etlik/Ankara, Turkey Tel: π90 312304,3533 Irmak MK, Oztas E, Yagmurca M, Fadillioglu E, Bakir B. Effects of Fax: π90 312304,6150 electromagnetic radiation from a cellular telephone on epidermal e-mail: mkirmak/gata.edu.tr Merkel cells. J Cutan Pathol 2003; 30: 135–138. C Blackwell Munksgaard 2003. Accepted July 8, 2002 Cellular telephones and their base stations produce electromagnetic radiation (EMR), the effect of which on the body depends on its frequency and power. Fre- quency is the rate at which electromagnetic fields change direction, and is measured in Hertz (Hz). One megahertz (MHz) is one million cycles per second. Analog telephones use frequencies between 800 and 900 MHz; and digital telephones use frequencies be- tween 1850 and 1990 MHz, while microwave ovens use a frequency of 2450MHz. Today’s mobile tele- phones, with a total power output of about 2 watts (W), have been thought not to produce any deleteri- ous effects. Recent research from many countries sug- gests, however, that there are several effects on living tissue, ranging from cutaneous problems such as burning sensations in the skin, 1 to changes in antioxi- dant levels and blood pressure. 2,3 The greatest mys- tery about these effects is their lack of a theoretical basis. Biological systems may interact resonantly with EMR but there is as yet no robust evidence to support this suggestion, although a role was suggested for mast 135 cells and histamine as underlying factors leading to cutaneous problems. 4 The Merkel cell, first described by Frederick Sig- mund Merkel, 5 is a non-cornifying cell of the epider- mis, identified in the skin of fish, amphibian, reptilian, and mammalian species. 6 It has morphologic features of epithelial cell, such as desmosomal contacts to sur- rounding keratinocytes and bundles of intermediate- sized filaments that appear to be cytokeratin of simple epithelial type. 7 Merkel cells are considerably more abundant in areas of the skin involved with sensory perception, such as the fingertips and the tip of the nose, and they are often seen in association with intra- dermal nerve endings and form the so-called Merkel cell–neurite complexes. 8 In ultrastructural study, Merkel cells are characterized by cytoplasmic mem- brane-bound, dense-core granules, resembling the se- cretory granules of endocrine cells. 9 However, precise origin and function of these cells are not clearly estab- lished. The effects of EMR on Merkel cells have not yet