Continuous 900-megahertz electromagnetic field applied in middle and late-adolescence causes qualitative and quantitative changes in the ovarian morphology, tissue and blood biochemistry of the rat

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use histological and biochemical methods in order to evaluate changes taking place in the ovarian of rats exposed to the effect of a 900-megahertz (MHz) electromagnetic field (EMF) in middle and late adolescence.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four 34-d-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned equally to control, sham and EMF groups. EMF group rats were exposed to the effect of a 900-MHz EMF for 1 h a day, at the same time every day between postnatal days 35 and 59, while inside an EMF cage. Sham group rats were kept inside the EMF cage for the same time between postnatal days 35 and 59 without being exposed to any EMF effect. At the end of the study, rats’ ovarian were removed and blood specimens were taken. Right ovarium tissues were subjected to routine histological procedures and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid shift and Masson’s trichrome. Follicles were counted in ovarian sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The TUNEL method was used to evaluate apoptosis. Left ovarian tissue and blood specimens were investigated biochemically.

Results: Histopathological examination of EMF group ovarian tissue revealed thinning in the zona granulosa and theca layers, shrinking in granulosa cells, reduced mitotic activity and leukocyte infiltration in the follicles and stroma. Secondary follicle numbers in the EMF group were significantly lower than in the other groups. In terms of biochemistry, EMF and sham group superoxide dismutase, catalase and anti-Mullerian hormone levels and EMF group 3-nitrotyrosine values increased significantly compared to the control group. EMF and sham group serum catalase and 8-hydroxy-deoxiguanosine values increased significantly compared to the control group, and EMF group total oxidant status and oxidative stress index values were significantly higher compared to the sham and control groups.

Conclusions: A total of 900-MHz EMF applied in middle and late adolescence may cause changes in the morphology and biochemistry of the rat ovarium.

Keywords:

• Electromagnetic field
• middle and late adolescence
• ovarium
• rat

Acknowledgments

We are most grateful to the mentor of our study, the late Prof. Dr. Ersan Odacı.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Notes on contributors

Derya Öztürk Okatan, MD, Histology and Embryology, Center for Assisted Reproduction, Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital , Ankara, Turkey.

Haydar Kaya, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.

Yüksel Aliyazıcıoğlu, MD, Professor, Department of Medical Biochemistry in Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.

Selim Demir, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics in Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.

Serdar Çolakoğlu, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Düzce University, Düzce, Turkey.

Ersan Odacı, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Karadeniz Technical University Research Fund, Project number TTU-2015-5240.