Effect of non-ionizing electromagnetic field on the alteration of ovarian follicles in rats

Seyed Shahin Ahmadi; Amir Afshin Khaki; Nava Ainehchi; Alireza Alihemmati; Azam Asghari Khatooni; Arash Khaki; Ali Asghari

doi:10.19082/2168

Effect of non-ionizing electromagnetic field on the alteration of ovarian follicles in rats

Electron Physician. 2016 Mar 25;8(3):2168-74. doi: 10.19082/2168. eCollection 2016 Mar.

Authors

Seyed Shahin Ahmadi¹, Amir Afshin Khaki², Nava Ainehchi³, Alireza Alihemmati⁴, Azam Asghari Khatooni⁵, Arash Khaki⁶, Ali Asghari⁷

Affiliations

¹ Ph.D. Student of Histology & Embryology, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
² Ph.D. of Anatomy, Associate Professor, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
³ Ph.D. Student, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁴ Ph.D. of Histology & Embryology, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomical sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁵ M.Sc. of Midwifery, Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁶ Ph.D. of Pathology, Associate Professor, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁷ M.Sc. of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

PMID: 27123226
PMCID: PMC4844484
DOI: 10.19082/2168

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, there has been an increase in the attention paid to safety effects, environmental and society's health, extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF), and radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). The aim of this research was to determine the effect of EMF on the alteration of ovarian follicles.

Methods: In this experimental study at Tabriz Medical University in 2015, we did EMF exposures and assessed the alteration of rats' ovarian follicles. Thirty three-month old rats were selected randomly from laboratory animals, and, after their ages and weights were determined, they were divided randomly into three groups. The control group consisted of 10 rats without any treatment, and they were kept in normal conditions. The second group of rats was influenced by a magnetic field of 50 Hz for eight weeks (three weeks intrauterine and five weeks ectopic). The third group of rats was influenced by a magnetic field of 50 Hz for 13 weeks (three weeks intrauterine and ten weeks ectopic). Samples were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde and cleared with Xylol and embedded in paraffin. After sectioning and staining, samples were studied by optic microscopy. Finally, SPSS version 17, were used for data analysis.

Results: EMF radiation increased the harmful effects on the formation of ovarian follicles and oocytes implantation. Studies on the effects of electromagnetic fields on ovarian follicles have shown that the nuclei of the oocytes become smaller and change shape. There were significant, harmful changes in the groups affected by electromagnetic waves. Atresia of ovarian follicles was significantly significant in both study groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Exposure to electromagnetic fields during embryonic development can cause morphological changes in oocytes and affect the differentiation of oocytes and folliculogenesis, resulting in decreased ovarian reserve leading to infertility or reduced fertility.

Keywords: electromagnetic field; follicle; infertility; rats.