Morphological changes in pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-testes systems in rats which were intrauterine exposed to weak electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract

Background. Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at the household level is now widespread. Studies of changes in progeny under the action of EMR on the mother during pregnancy are very rare. Methods. In the experiment on rats prenatally exposed to weak EMR in the centimeter range, the morphological features of the pituitary gland, adrenals, testes were studied. Adult females-mothers (5 individuals) were exposed to low-intensity EMR centimeter range (1-10 cm); radiation energy was less than 3 mW/cm2. Exposure to EMR was performed daily for 4 hours during 1 month before pregnancy and during the entire period of pregnancy. Results. In three months old progeny of the main group (15 individuals) comparing with the control group (14 individuals) morphofunctional activation of adrenocorticotropic cells (ACTC) -adrenal system was identified: ACTC hyperplasia and a significant increase of their nuclei size, hyperplasia of spongiocytes and increase of their nuclei size. The adrenal medulla in the main group showed a decrease in the number of inactive neuroendocrine cells, and significant increase in their nuclear area in males and females. The study of the pituitary-testes system found in the testes of main group males thinning of spermatogenic epithelium (reduction of sperm production). Islets of Leydig cells in the interstitium were hyperplastic, nuclei of Leydig cells were increased. In the pituitary gland of the main group animals gonadotropic cells occur in fewer than in the control group, but they had larger nuclei. Conclusion. In adult young rats prenatally exposed to chronic effects of EMR in the centimeter range, there is a general morphofunctional activation of the ACTC-adrenal system and decrease of spermatogenesis in male on the background of their hormonal hyperstimulation.