The effects of electromagnetic fields on the number of ovarian primordial follicles: An experimental study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an electromagnetic field (EMF), generated close to the ovaries, on primordial follicles. A total of 16 rats were used in this study. The study group consisted of rats exposed to an EMF in the abdominal region for 15 min/d for 15 days. Both the study and control group were composed of eight rats. After the treatment period of 15 days, the ovaries of the rats were extracted, and sections of ovarian tissue were taken for histological evaluation. The independent samples t test was used to compare the two groups. In the study group, the means of the right and left ovarian follicle numbers were 34.00 ± 10.20 and 36.00 ± 10.53, respectively. The average total ovarian follicle number was 70.00 ± 19.03. In the control group, the means of the right and left ovarian follicle numbers were 78.50 ± 25.98 and 71.75 ± 29.66, respectively, and the average total ovarian follicle number was 150.25 ± 49.53. The comparisons of the means of the right and left ovarian follicle numbers and the means of the total ovarian follicle numbers between the study and control groups indicated that the study group had significantly fewer follicles (p < 0.001, p = 0.011, and p = 0.002, respectively). This study found a significant decrease in the number of ovarian follicles in rats exposed to an EMF. Further clinical studies are needed to reveal the effects of EMFs on ovarian reserve and infertility.

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

“…Irregular morphology of the core can be a sign of changes in nuclear structure (23). In a study conducted by Bakacak on the effects of an electromagnetic field on ovarian follicles showed that the oocytes’ nuclei became smaller and changed in shape (14). Figure 6 shows that the zona pellucida in the follicles was degraded extensively and are no longer visible.…”

“…Because of their jobs, physiotherapists who are pregnant are affected by microwave radiation, they have an increased risk of miscarriage. Living in proximity (closer than 50 meters) of an ELF-EMF source during pregnancy can cause suboptimal growth of the uterus (14). Another study also found that exposure of pregnant women between the first to the 20th days of pregnancy reduces the number of viable fetuses per mother (15).…”

Untitled

“…Some authors consider electromagnetic fields to be risk factors for malignant neoplasms evolvement [3,12], There are some data proving that electromagnetic radiation within radio frequencies range can cause noncarcinogenic risks of population health disorders [11,[13][14][15]23,24]. We have come across some works containing evidence that certain effects exerted on health still need to be proved [21].…”

“…Strain which professional VDT users suffer from has certain peculiarities [4,7,14,22]. However, long-term and intensive work with a VDT screen leads to visual analyzer overstrain which is viewed as "computer visual syndrome" with occupational ophthalmopathy evolvement in PC operators [6,16,24]. We can spotlight three similar but not identical states which occur during work with VDT and make for decrease in work efficiency: they are fatigue, monotony, and mental satiety.…”

On assessing electromagnetic field (300 kmhz – 300mhz) in a large industrial city on the basis of 3d modeling and instrumental measuring

“…Some authors consider electromagnetic fields to be risk factors for malignant neoplasms evolvement [3,12], There are some data proving that electromagnetic radiation within radio frequencies range can cause noncarcinogenic risks of population health disorders [11,[13][14][15]23,24]. We have come across some works containing evidence that certain effects exerted on health still need to be proved [21].…”