The effects of electromagnetic field on the microstructure of seminal vesicles in rat: a light and transmission electron microscope study.

Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS · 2008 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4997

Study snapshot

PublicationPakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS · 2008

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

In the industrial world, almost everyone is unavoidably exposed to ambient electromagnetic field (EMF) generated from various technical and household appliances. Controversy exists about the effects of EMF on various tissues of the living bodies. Seminal vesicles as one of these accessory glands play an important role in natural seminal fluid formation and the effects of EMF on its tissue is worthy of investigation. In order to examine this 30 rat were selected and kept for one weeks in quarantine and 15 (experimental group) were exposed to 50 Hz (non-ionizing radiation) during postnatal life for 2 months. The materials were processed and observed under a light and transmission electron microscope. In the experimental rats epithelial and basal cells showed significant destructions presented by heterochromatin and dense nuclei. Cell debris and abnormal areas was recognizable in the stromal connective tissue. Obvious vacuolization was present within the epithelial cell cytoplasm and also between the cellular organelles. The nuclei of the endothelial cells of the blood vessels were more rigid and endothelial cell cytoplasm contained a lot of vacuoles and pinoctotic vesicles. The results suggested that EMF exposure may cause profound changes in the vesicle seminal tissues. Therefore exposure to EMF may result in pathological changes that lead to sub fertility and infertility.

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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 directionharm

PopulationRats (postnatal life)

Sample size30

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 2 months (during postnatal life)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Fifteen rats exposed to 50 Hz EMF for 2 months showed reported microstructural/ultrastructural abnormalities in seminal vesicles, including epithelial and basal cell destruction (heterochromatin and dense nuclei), stromal cell debris/abnormal areas, epithelial cytoplasmic and inter-organelle vacuolization, and endothelial cell nuclear rigidity with vacuoles and pinocytotic vesicles. The authors conclude EMF exposure may cause profound tissue changes and may lead to subfertility/infertility.

Outcomes measured

Seminal vesicle microstructure (light microscopy)
Seminal vesicle ultrastructure (transmission electron microscopy)
Histopathological cellular changes in epithelial and basal cells
Stromal connective tissue abnormalities
Endothelial cell nuclear/cytoplasmic changes in blood vessels

Limitations

EMF source and exposure intensity/dose metrics (e.g., field strength, SAR) not reported in abstract
No functional fertility endpoints reported in abstract (inference to subfertility/infertility is speculative)
Randomization/blinding and control conditions not described in abstract
Small sample size per group (15 exposed; control group details not described in abstract)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 months (during postnatal life)"
  },
  "population": "Rats (postnatal life)",
  "sample_size": 30,
  "outcomes": [
    "Seminal vesicle microstructure (light microscopy)",
    "Seminal vesicle ultrastructure (transmission electron microscopy)",
    "Histopathological cellular changes in epithelial and basal cells",
    "Stromal connective tissue abnormalities",
    "Endothelial cell nuclear/cytoplasmic changes in blood vessels"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Fifteen rats exposed to 50 Hz EMF for 2 months showed reported microstructural/ultrastructural abnormalities in seminal vesicles, including epithelial and basal cell destruction (heterochromatin and dense nuclei), stromal cell debris/abnormal areas, epithelial cytoplasmic and inter-organelle vacuolization, and endothelial cell nuclear rigidity with vacuoles and pinocytotic vesicles. The authors conclude EMF exposure may cause profound tissue changes and may lead to subfertility/infertility.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "EMF source and exposure intensity/dose metrics (e.g., field strength, SAR) not reported in abstract",
    "No functional fertility endpoints reported in abstract (inference to subfertility/infertility is speculative)",
    "Randomization/blinding and control conditions not described in abstract",
    "Small sample size per group (15 exposed; control group details not described in abstract)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic field",
    "EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "ELF",
    "non-ionizing radiation",
    "rat",
    "seminal vesicle",
    "microstructure",
    "ultrastructure",
    "light microscopy",
    "transmission electron microscopy",
    "vacuolization",
    "endothelial cells",
    "reproductive toxicity"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Background mentions ambient EMF exposure in industrial/household settings, but the experiment is in rats and does not specify an occupational source."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3923/pjbs.2008.692.701
PubMed: 18819564

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