Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia
Abstract
In utero development of organs is easily
influenced by many environmental factors. The aim of
this study was to elucidate the effect of microwave
radiation (MR) at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and a
specific absorption rate of 1.73 W/kg on intrauterine
development of testis. Pregnant albino rats were exposed
to whole-body MR for 2 hours per day throughout the
pregnancy. Male offspring (n=12, age 35 days) were not
exposed to MR after birth. The study revealed that MR
applied in utero induced apparent structural changes in
the testes, such as irregular shape of seminiferous
tubules, significant decrease in the diameter of
seminiferous tubules (p<0.05) and in the height of the
germinal epithelium (p<0.01), disorganisation of germ
cells, desquamations of immature germ cells, formation
of giant multinucleated cells, and significant (p<0.01)
expansion of the interstitium. At the level of
transmission electron microscopy, there were observed
basement membrane irregularities in seminiferous
tubules, vacuolation of the cytoplasm and adversely
affected organelles in Sertoli cells, germ cells, Leydig
cells, peritubular and endothelial cells. The tight
junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells were often
incomplete, and necrotizing germ cells were more
numerous in experimental animals compared to controls.
Enhanced necrotizations of germ cells proved by a
Fluoro Jade C method, and declined germ cells
proliferation confirmed by proliferating cell nuclear
antigen analysis, were detected in MR exposed animals.
Our results revealed that the prenatal exposure to MR
had an adverse effect on the postnatal testicular
development in rats