Abstract
The aim of our study was to determine, using histological and stereological methods, whether photoperiodism has any impact on the effects that chronic (three-month long) exposure to LF-EMF (50Hz) has on morphological characteristics on rat's pineal gland. The experiment was performed on 48 Mill Hill male rats (24 experimental and 24 control). Upon birth, 24 rats were exposed for 7h a day, 5 days a week for 3 months to LF-EMF (50 Hz, 50-500microT, 10V/m). In the winter (short days, long nights), the activity of the pineal gland and neuroendocrine sensitivity is increased. The study was performed both during summer and winter, following the identical protocol. After sacrifice of animals, samples of pineal gland were processed for HE staining and then were analyzed using the methods of stereology. The most significant changes in epiphysis in the first group of animals in wintertime are: altered glandular feature, hyperemia, reduced pinealocytes with pale pink, poor cytoplasm and irregular, stick-form nuclei. In the second group (II) pinealocytes are enlarged, with vacuolated cytoplasm and hyper chromatic, enlarged nucleus. Morphological changes of pineal gland at rats in the summertime were not as intense as in the winter and finding of the gland in the group II is compatible with those from the control group. Stereological results show both in winter and summer in the first group the decrease of volume density of pinealocytes, their cytoplasm and nuclei and in the second group in winter increase the volume density of pinealocytes, cytoplasm and nuclei, while in the second group the results in summertime are equal to those from the control group. Photoperiodism is modifier of effect of LF-EMF on morphological structure of pineal gland, because the gland recovery is incomplete in winter and reversible in summer.
Highlights
Electromagnetic radiations, that have been more and more present in human living and working environment in the last decade, represent one of important stress-bearing factors ( )
In pineal glands of animals that were sacrificed in the winter period after three weeks of recovery from three-month exposure to LF-EMF, numerous light vacuolized pinealocytes are noticed, the cytoplasm of which is suppressed into one end of the cell, which gives them a characteristic appearance of ring (Figure )
With animals sacrificed in summer period, immediately after exposure to LF EMF, the histological finding shows the domination of dark pinealocytes, reduction of their volume as well as hyper chromatic of their nuclei, while the pinealocytes in glands of animals after their three-week recovery, are characterized by a domination of large, light pinealocytes which are, by their characteristics, very similar to pinealocytes in control animals (Figure )
Summary
Electromagnetic radiations, that have been more and more present in human living and working environment in the last decade, represent one of important stress-bearing factors ( ). As a neuroendocrine organ which affects activity of several neuroendocrine structures and non-endocrine systems, is a neuroendocrine transmitter and functions on the border of nervous and endocrine system. When it receives information on the degree of light in the outer environment, the epiphysis transforms vibration of humoral trandusers, which coordinate the rhythm of other function with the rhythm of brightness ( ). Melatonin changes different biological processes that participate in regulation of circadian rhythms, seasonal reproduction, sleep, retina physiology, vascular tonus, metabolism, immunity and neoplasm ( ) This hormone shows clear antiproliferative properties with defined malignant types of cells ( ), and stimulates different immune parameters that participate in defense mechanisms against tumor ( ). The purpose of our study is to determine, using histological and stereological methods, whether photoperiodism has any impact on the effects that chronic (three-month long) exposure to LF-EMF ( Hz) has on morphological characteristics of pineal gland
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