Developmental Effects of ELF-EMF on Testis and Ovary in Newborn Rats

Background and Objective: Human beings are unavoidably exposed to ambient electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated from various electrical devices and from power transmission lines. Controversy exists about the effects of EMF on various organs. The aim of this work evaluation the effects of intrauterine exposure to 50Hz electromagnetic field (EMF) on testicular and ovary development. Methods: Pregnant wistar rats were exposed to 3mT, EMF for 21 days, 4 hours/day. Pregnant rats under same condition of treatment group, but off the field as a sham group intended and pregnant rats were used as control in the room. After delivery, testis and ovary were removed from male and female pups, fixed and prepared for light microscopic studies. Results: Microscopic results revealed seminiferous tubules in treatment group in comparison with the control and sham groups were widely separated from each other, in this group in seminiferous tubules vacuolization, detachment of gonocytes from each other, heterochromatic gonocytes and decreasing in interstitial tissue was found. The ovary of the treatment group in comparison to control group showed that oocyte nests were mostly broken and irregularly arranged. The primordial follicles were less developed. Conclusion: In general, as a result of the exposure to EMF during early developmental period, morphological changes in testicular and ovary development were evident, that may well extend till adult stage and may affect fertility.