Effects of Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on the Histopathology of Liver Tissues in Rat Offspring

Abstract

Background and purpose: The investigation of low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF, 50Hz) reveals their destructive effect on metabolic activity of cells. Due to the sensitivity of the fetal period, which is associated with the differentiation, the probability of organ damage is high. So the purpose of this research was to investigate histopathological damages to liver of rat offspring. Materials and methods: Fifteen female rats after mating and pregnancy diagnosis were used. Pregnant mice were divided into three groups: 1. EMF group of rats were exposed to waves for 0.5 hour daily during pregnancy; 2. the Sham group was placed inside the device under the same conditions of EMF group without radiation; and 3. control group. At the end of the pregnancy period (21 days), infants were divided into three groups according to their mother's grouping and at the end of the infancy period (28 days), tissue sampling of infant livers was done. Then the histopathological data of liver tissue were statistically analyzed. Results: In the EMF group, newborn babies exhibited stable histopathological changes in their liver tissue, with necrotic and degenerative areas increasing by 42% and 2.5 times, respectively, compared to the control and Sham groups. These differences were statistically significant (P≤0.05). Also, a numerical increase in hyperemia lesions and liver tissue inflammation was observed in this group compared to the control and Sham groups. Conclusion: Our results showed that the low-frequency EMF in the pregnancy period of mothers has a significant effect on tissue lesions of the liver of newborn rats.

Keywords

• electromagnetic fields (emf)
• histopathological damages
• low-frequency waves
• liver tissue
• rat