Effects of Acute and Chronic Exposure to 900 Mhz Electromagnetic Field on the Rat Liver Microarchitecture

Abstract

Technological devices such as mobile phones, wi-fi and bluetooth applications used widely in daily life emit low-dose electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs influence metabolic processes in the body and exert various harmful biological effects on cells. This study aims to evaluate acute and chronic effects of 900 MHz EMF exposure on the microscopic structure of rat liver. Twenty-four adult Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into sham-control (Group I), acutely EMF-exposed (Group II) and chronically EMF-exposed (Group III) groups (n = 8 in each). The Rats of Group II were exposed to 900 MHz EMF using a microwave test transmitter during 24 h continuously just for one day. Group III-rats were exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 60 minutes a day for 30 days. Sham-controls were not applied EMF. After the rats were sacrificed under the anesthesia, their livers were removed and processed for light microscopic evaluation. Liver sections stained with histochemical dyes (H&E, PAS and Masson’s trichrome) displayed many histopathological alterations in both of the EMF-exposed groups, including foci of necrosis, inflammation, excessive vacuolar degenerations and apoptosis in hepatocytes, apparent vascular expansions and haemorrhage. Additionally, mononuclear cell infiltrations, biliary hyperplasia, fibrosis in periportal and centrilobular areas and decreased Kupffer cell population were determined in the chronic EMF exposure group. In contrast, the amount of the Kupffer cells were much more in the acute exposure group. Our findings suggested that both acute and chronic exposure to 900 MHz EMFs can lead to hepatic injury in rats.

Keywords

• apoptosis
• cell injury
• electromagnetic field
• histology
• liver
• microscopy
• microwave
• rat