Histopathological changes associated with oxidative stress induced by electromagnetic waves in rats' ovarian and uterine tissues

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the histopathological changes in ovarian and uterine tissues associated with oxidative stress induced by electromagnetic waves.

Methods Thirty female Sprague Dawley of 180 g body weight and 3 months old were used in the experimental work. Animals were divided into control and two experimental groups. Experimental groups were exposed to 1 800 MHz Global System for Mobile Communication radiofrequency radiation emitted by a signal generator for 2 h per day for 30 and 60 d, respectively. Following exposure, serum, ovaries and uteri were collected for biochemical and histopathological investigations.

Results Biochemical analysis showed alterations in oxidative stress parameters in both ovaries and uteri tissues in comparison to control group. The histopathological changes were more prominent in experimental groups, in the ovary were included vacuolation in interstitial, granulosa, luteal cells and ooplasm. Other histopathological changes are disorientation of corona radiata, disruption and thinning of the zona pellucida. Cellular nucleus changes similar to fragmentation of the nucleus indicate the start of a degeneration process at Graafian follicles as well as micronuclei formation in oocyte nucleus and in some luteal cells. Histopathological changes in uterine tissue confined to increase height of luminal epithelium cells, sever apoptosis of glandular and luminal epithelium cells, and sever eosinophils, polymorphonucleocyte lymphocytes and macrophage's infiltration in myometrium and endometrium layers. Vascular congestion points out for the existence of inflammatory response changes in the endometrium.

Conclusion Results executed that the potential alteration of antioxidant capacity may contribute to endometrial oxidative damage that could be related to pathogenesis and progression of endometritis.