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.
AI evidence extraction
Main findings
Compared with control/sham, the EMF group showed ovarian histopathological changes (thinning of zona granulosa and theca layers, granulosa cell shrinking, reduced mitotic activity, leukocyte infiltration) and significantly lower secondary follicle numbers. Biochemically, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and anti-Mullerian hormone levels increased in EMF and sham vs control; 3-nitrotyrosine increased in EMF vs control; serum catalase and 8-hydroxy-deoxiguanosine increased in EMF and sham vs control; and total oxidant status and oxidative stress index were higher in EMF vs sham and control.
Outcomes measured
- Ovarian histopathology (zona granulosa/theca layers, granulosa cell morphology, mitotic activity, leukocyte infiltration)
- Ovarian follicle counts (secondary follicles)
- Apoptosis (TUNEL)
- Biochemical markers in ovarian tissue and blood/serum: superoxide dismutase, catalase, anti-Mullerian hormone, 3-nitrotyrosine, 8-hydroxy-deoxiguanosine, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index
Limitations
- Animal study (rat model); human relevance not established in abstract
- Exposure metric details beyond frequency and duration (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in abstract
- Some biochemical changes also observed in sham vs control, suggesting possible cage/handling effects
Suggested hubs
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rf-fertility-reproduction
(0.9) Assesses ovarian morphology, follicle counts, and reproductive-related biomarkers after 900 MHz RF-EMF exposure in rats.
View raw extracted JSON
{
"study_type": "animal",
"exposure": {
"band": "RF",
"source": null,
"frequency_mhz": 900,
"sar_wkg": null,
"duration": "1 h/day between postnatal days 35 and 59"
},
"population": "34-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats (middle and late adolescence exposure window)",
"sample_size": 24,
"outcomes": [
"Ovarian histopathology (zona granulosa/theca layers, granulosa cell morphology, mitotic activity, leukocyte infiltration)",
"Ovarian follicle counts (secondary follicles)",
"Apoptosis (TUNEL)",
"Biochemical markers in ovarian tissue and blood/serum: superoxide dismutase, catalase, anti-Mullerian hormone, 3-nitrotyrosine, 8-hydroxy-deoxiguanosine, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index"
],
"main_findings": "Compared with control/sham, the EMF group showed ovarian histopathological changes (thinning of zona granulosa and theca layers, granulosa cell shrinking, reduced mitotic activity, leukocyte infiltration) and significantly lower secondary follicle numbers. Biochemically, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and anti-Mullerian hormone levels increased in EMF and sham vs control; 3-nitrotyrosine increased in EMF vs control; serum catalase and 8-hydroxy-deoxiguanosine increased in EMF and sham vs control; and total oxidant status and oxidative stress index were higher in EMF vs sham and control.",
"effect_direction": "harm",
"limitations": [
"Animal study (rat model); human relevance not established in abstract",
"Exposure metric details beyond frequency and duration (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in abstract",
"Some biochemical changes also observed in sham vs control, suggesting possible cage/handling effects"
],
"evidence_strength": "low",
"confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
"peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
"keywords": [
"900 MHz",
"RF-EMF",
"adolescence",
"rat",
"ovary",
"ovarian morphology",
"follicle count",
"oxidative stress",
"8-hydroxy-deoxiguanosine",
"3-nitrotyrosine",
"anti-Mullerian hormone",
"catalase",
"superoxide dismutase"
],
"suggested_hubs": [
{
"slug": "rf-fertility-reproduction",
"weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
"reason": "Assesses ovarian morphology, follicle counts, and reproductive-related biomarkers after 900 MHz RF-EMF exposure in rats."
}
]
}
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