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

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.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Compared with controls, rats exposed to a 50 Hz magnetic field for 8 or 13 weeks showed significant harmful changes in ovarian follicles, including increased follicular atresia (p < 0.05) and reported morphological changes in oocytes (smaller, shape-changed nuclei).

Outcomes measured

• Alteration/morphology of ovarian follicles
• Oocyte morphology (nuclei size/shape)
• Follicular atresia
• Oocyte implantation (as stated)
• Ovarian reserve / fertility implications (as stated)

Limitations

• Exposure intensity/dose (e.g., magnetic flux density) not reported in the abstract
• No RF-EMF exposure details provided despite mention in introduction
• Outcome assessment details and quantitative results beyond p-value not provided in the abstract
• Randomization/blinding procedures not described in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• elf-emf (0.86)
  Animal experiment with 50 Hz magnetic-field exposure (ELF).
• reproductive-health (0.78)
  Assesses ovarian follicles/oocytes and discusses ovarian reserve and fertility implications.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "8 weeks (3 weeks intrauterine + 5 weeks ectopic) or 13 weeks (3 weeks intrauterine + 10 weeks ectopic)"
    },
    "population": "Rats (3-month old)",
    "sample_size": 30,
    "outcomes": [
        "Alteration/morphology of ovarian follicles",
        "Oocyte morphology (nuclei size/shape)",
        "Follicular atresia",
        "Oocyte implantation (as stated)",
        "Ovarian reserve / fertility implications (as stated)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Compared with controls, rats exposed to a 50 Hz magnetic field for 8 or 13 weeks showed significant harmful changes in ovarian follicles, including increased follicular atresia (p < 0.05) and reported morphological changes in oocytes (smaller, shape-changed nuclei).",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure intensity/dose (e.g., magnetic flux density) not reported in the abstract",
        "No RF-EMF exposure details provided despite mention in introduction",
        "Outcome assessment details and quantitative results beyond p-value not provided in the abstract",
        "Randomization/blinding procedures not described in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "magnetic field",
        "rat",
        "ovary",
        "ovarian follicles",
        "oocyte",
        "folliculogenesis",
        "atresia",
        "embryonic development",
        "infertility"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "elf-emf",
            "weight": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
            "reason": "Animal experiment with 50 Hz magnetic-field exposure (ELF)."
        },
        {
            "slug": "reproductive-health",
            "weight": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
            "reason": "Assesses ovarian follicles/oocytes and discusses ovarian reserve and fertility implications."
        }
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}

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