Histomorphological Changes in the Skin and Eye Induced by Sub-Chronic Exposure of Wistar Rats to 3G Cell Phone Radiation

Abstract

The effects of electromagnetic radiation produced by a 3G cell phone (third-generation) on skin tissues and eyes were investigated in terms of histomorphological parameters. A total of 26 Wistar rats (2 weeks-old, each weighing 40 g at the time of experiment) were used. They were maintained under a control room with water and food continuously available. The animals were divided into two experimental groups: Group A (Exposed) and Group B (Control), each with 13 Wistar Rats kept inside a plexi cage. Group A was exposed to a 3G cell phone radiation while Group B the control group, was not. All animals were generally anesthetized with Ketamine injection and then decapitated. The skin tissue was excised from the dorsal area and eyes samples were taken from all the rats by enucleating of the eye balls, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for a minimum of 72 hours before processing through a graded alcohol and xylene was used as a clearing agent, embedded in paraffin blocks. Tissues were sectioned at 5μm thick and routinely stained with hematoxylin/eosin. Mounted slides were examined and photographed using a light microscope. Mild to severe orthokeratotic parakeratosis was observed in the skin while eye revealed loss of striation in the sclera with necrosis of the layers of rods and cones in the retina of the exposed group. We conclude that sub chronic exposure to 3G cell phone radiation impaired the protective ability of the skin and also impaired accommodation.