The expansion of mobile phone technology has raised concerns regarding the effect of 900-MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on the central nervous system. At present, the developing human brain is regularly exposed to mobile telephones, pre- and postnatally. Several studies have demonstrated the acute effects of EMF exposure during pre- or postnatal periods; however, the chronic effects of EMF exposure are less understood. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the chronic effects of EMF on the pre- and postnatal rat cerebellum. The control group was maintained in the same conditions as the experimental groups, without the exposure to EMF. In the EMF1 group, the rats were exposed to EMF during pre- and postnatal periods (until postnatal day 80). In the EMF2 group, the rats were also exposed to EMF pre- and postnatally; in addition, however, they were provided with a daily oral supplementation of Lycopersicon esculentum extract (∼2 g/kg). The number of caspase-3-labeled Purkinje neurons and granule cells present in the rats in the control and experimental groups were then counted. The neurodegenerative changes were studied using cresyl violet staining, and these changes were evaluated. In comparison with the control animals, the EMF1 group demonstrated a significant increase in the number of caspase-3-labeled Purkinje neurons and granule cells present in the cerebellum (P<0.001). However, in comparison with the EMF1 group, the EMF2 group exhibited significantly fewer caspase-3-labeled Purkinje neurons and granule cells in the cerebellum. In the EMF1 group, the Purkinje neurons were revealed to have undergone dark neuron degenerative changes. However, the presence of dark Purkinje neurons was reduced in the EMF2 group, compared with the EMF1 group. The results indicated that apoptosis and neurodegeneration in rats exposed to EMF during pre- and postnatal periods may be reduced with Lycopersicon esculentum extract therapy.

Recurrent implantation failure leads to a reduced pregnancy rate. The expression patterns of trophinin and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (CD26) indicate the involvement of embryo implantation and early placental development. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate endometrial co‑culture cells in the presence of embryo with trophinin and CD26 immunofluorescence staining. Patients with recurrent implantation failure were enrolled in the present study. The patients were aged between 26 and 36 years. Co‑cultures were prepared from endometrial biopsies for each patient. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation was performed on each of the patients. Certain embryos were maintained in a conventional culture environment (n=80), and others in an endometrial co‑culture environment (n=25). Following embryo transfer, the co‑culture cells were examined under an inverted wide‑field fluorescence microscope. The ratio of a successful pregnancy was 0.38 in the present study (n=5/13 pregnancies). The average age of the successful group (28±3.54 years) was younger compared with the unsuccessful (32.67±2.81) group (P≤0.05). The number of trophinin (+) endometrial cells in the presence of an embryo was significantly lower (P=0.046) in the successful group on the first day. No significant difference between the groups was observed in terms of the number of CD26 (+) cells on the first to the fourth days (P≤0.05). Trophinin and CD26 immunostaining is important in the early period of pregnancy, and it will be beneficial in terms of providing the deficit of conventional culture medium in performed studies with the endometrial co‑culture medium. The co‑culture may be important, particularly in the early period, in patients with recurrent implantation failure in terms of enabling a connection between the cells belonging to the endometrium and the embryo.