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Histological characteristics of cutaneous and thyroid mast cell populations in male rats exposed to power-frequency electromagnetic fields.

International journal of radiation biology · 2005 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5161

Rats exposed to 50 Hz EMF showed a significantly higher numerical and volume density of intact type A mast cells in the thyroid compared with controls. In skin and thyroid, mast cells and immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed in exposed animals, but stere…

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of radiation biology · 2005
Study typeanimal
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine whether mast cells (MC) in skin and thyroid gland, cutaneous nerve fibers and eosinophils are sensitive to the influence of electromagnetic fields (EMF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was performed on two-month-old Wistar male rats, exposed to 50 Hz EMF (100-300 microT, 54-160 V/m) for 4 h a day, seven days a week during one month. After sacrifice, samples of skin and thyroid were processed for toluidine blue staining or indirect immunohistochemistry. The M42 grid placed in the ocular of a light microscope and a special microscopic frame placed in the ocular of a fluorescence microscope were used for stereological analysis. RESULTS: The numerical and volume density of intact type A MC in the thyroid of the exposed group was significantly higher compared to the control. A number of MC and immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed in the skin and of histamine-immunoreactive MC in the thyroid of exposed animals. The differences in stereological data were not statistically significant by the Mann-Whitney test. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate certain alterations of cutaneous and thyroid MC in rats exposed to EMF. However, the possible outcome of changes in the MC population under EMF influence on morphophysiological properties of other structures in skin and thyroid requires further investigation.

Machine Enhanced Logic

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
PopulationTwo-month-old Wistar male rats
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 4 h/day, 7 days/week for 1 month
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to 50 Hz EMF showed a significantly higher numerical and volume density of intact type A mast cells in the thyroid compared with controls. In skin and thyroid, mast cells and immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed in exposed animals, but stereological differences were not statistically significant by Mann-Whitney test.

Outcomes measured

  • Mast cell (MC) numerical density in thyroid
  • Mast cell (MC) volume density in thyroid
  • Skin mast cells
  • Thyroid histamine-immunoreactive mast cells
  • Cutaneous immunoreactive nerve fibers
  • Eosinophils

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • Statistical significance reported for some thyroid mast cell measures but not for stereological differences in other measures; outcome interpretation unclear
  • Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "4 h/day, 7 days/week for 1 month"
  },
  "population": "Two-month-old Wistar male rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Mast cell (MC) numerical density in thyroid",
    "Mast cell (MC) volume density in thyroid",
    "Skin mast cells",
    "Thyroid histamine-immunoreactive mast cells",
    "Cutaneous immunoreactive nerve fibers",
    "Eosinophils"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 50 Hz EMF showed a significantly higher numerical and volume density of intact type A mast cells in the thyroid compared with controls. In skin and thyroid, mast cells and immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed in exposed animals, but stereological differences were not statistically significant by Mann-Whitney test.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Statistical significance reported for some thyroid mast cell measures but not for stereological differences in other measures; outcome interpretation unclear",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "50 Hz",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "rats",
    "Wistar",
    "mast cells",
    "thyroid",
    "skin",
    "histology",
    "immunohistochemistry",
    "nerve fibers",
    "eosinophils",
    "microtesla",
    "V/m"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.32,
      "reason": "Power-frequency (50 Hz) field exposure with specified microtesla and V/m levels; relevant to ELF exposure contexts."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1080/09553000500303518
PubMed: 16263652

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