Effect of electromagnetic radiation on the liver structure and ultrastructure of in utero irradiated rats

2021 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 931

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effect of electromagnetic radiation on the liver structure and ultrastructure of in utero irradiated rats Katarína Holovská, Viera Almášiová, Sandra Andrašková, Zuzana Demčišáková, Enikő Račeková, Viera Cigánková. Effect of electromagnetic radiation on the liver structure and ultrastructure of in utero irradiated rats. Acta Vet. Brno 2021, 90: 315-319. doi:10.2754/avb202190030315. The aim of this study was to observe the influence of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on the structure and ultrastructure of the rat’s liver. The pregnant rats used in the experiment were exposed to a pulsed microwave radiation (frequency of 2.45 GHz; mean power density of 2.8 mW/cm2) daily for 2 h, throughout their pregnancy. After delivery, the offspring was not exposed to EMR. Samples of the liver of 5-week-old offspring were subjected to histopathological evaluation. They were processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. Our results indicated that EMR did not cause pronounced changes in the structure of the liver of the investigated offspring. The size and shape of liver lobuli was preserved and the amount of connective tissue in the liver parenchyma did not increase. However, electron microscopy revealed changes in the shape and number of microvilli at the vascular pole of hepatocytes, and formation of vesicles of various shapes and sizes. The endothelial cells were swollen with larger fenestrations compared to the control group. The spaces of Disse were irregular and dilated. Even though these changes were only mild, further studies are needed to determine the effect of EMR and clarify its potential risk during pregnancy. Open access paper: actavet.vfu.cz

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationPregnant rats and their offspring (liver samples from 5-week-old offspring)

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz · Daily 2 h throughout pregnancy (in utero exposure); offspring not exposed after delivery

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Pulsed 2.45 GHz exposure during pregnancy did not cause pronounced changes in liver structure of 5-week-old offspring by light microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy showed mild ultrastructural changes including altered microvilli at the vascular pole of hepatocytes, vesicle formation, swollen endothelial cells with larger fenestrations, and irregular/dilated spaces of Disse.

Outcomes measured

Liver structure (histopathology/light microscopy)
Liver ultrastructure (transmission electron microscopy)
Hepatocyte microvilli (shape/number)
Vesicle formation in hepatocytes
Endothelial cell swelling and fenestrations
Spaces of Disse morphology (irregularity/dilation)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
No SAR reported (only mean power density provided)
Exposure source/device not specified in abstract
Outcomes limited to histopathology and ultrastructure at a single postnatal time point (5 weeks)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Daily 2 h throughout pregnancy (in utero exposure); offspring not exposed after delivery"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant rats and their offspring (liver samples from 5-week-old offspring)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Liver structure (histopathology/light microscopy)",
    "Liver ultrastructure (transmission electron microscopy)",
    "Hepatocyte microvilli (shape/number)",
    "Vesicle formation in hepatocytes",
    "Endothelial cell swelling and fenestrations",
    "Spaces of Disse morphology (irregularity/dilation)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Pulsed 2.45 GHz exposure during pregnancy did not cause pronounced changes in liver structure of 5-week-old offspring by light microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy showed mild ultrastructural changes including altered microvilli at the vascular pole of hepatocytes, vesicle formation, swollen endothelial cells with larger fenestrations, and irregular/dilated spaces of Disse.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "No SAR reported (only mean power density provided)",
    "Exposure source/device not specified in abstract",
    "Outcomes limited to histopathology and ultrastructure at a single postnatal time point (5 weeks)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic radiation",
    "pulsed microwave radiation",
    "2.45 GHz",
    "pregnancy",
    "in utero exposure",
    "rat",
    "liver",
    "ultrastructure",
    "electron microscopy",
    "histopathology"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.2754/avb202190030315
PubMed: Not supplied

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