Teratogenic Effect of Broad-Band Electromagnetic Field on Neonatal Mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract

Pregnant mice (Mus musculus), strain Swiss Webster, were exposed to a continuous electromagnetic field (12.8V/m) beginning in the third week of pregnancy. Histological and hematological analysis showed gender specific responses in 21 day-old mice after in-utero and post-natal continuous exposure. Automated lymphocyte percentage and total white blood cell counts were significantly elevated in exposed 21 day-old female mice compared to control mice. Lymphoma-like cells were seen in higher numbers in exposed 21 day-old male mice. Megaloblastic changes, such as hypersegmented neutrophils, were observed in exposed mice. The blood from control neonatal mice was more viscous than that of exposed mice, enough to interfere with making a blood smear. The adult female mice showed no significant differences in the above hematologic parameters between exposed and control groups. Histological study showed the following pathological changes in the adrenal cortex: degeneration/necrosis in the zona glomerulosa; hypertrophy in zona reticularis; degeneration/necrosis, intracytoplasmic inclusions and inflammation in the zona fasciculata/reticularis, more prominent in exposed female neonates; and lipidosis in the zona fasciculata. In the adrenal medulla: atrophy was more common in exposed female neonates; and intracytoplasmic inclusions and vacuolation were more common in exposed male neonates. Cystic proliferations were found in the cortical area of the thymus. In the medulla of the thymus, there was vacuolation, inflammation, or eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions in exposed adults. Behavioral differences occurred in both neonates and adult females. Control neonates were able to manipulate through a maze more quickly than exposed neonates; and control adult females displayed more thorough grooming behavior than exposed mothers, and maintained more distance between the nest and dropping location than did the exposed group.

The Effect of Electromagnetic Fields with the Mg<sup>2+</sup> Cyclotron Frequency on Mouse Reproductive Performance

“…A higher observation of mild hepatic chronic inflammatory population, without other associated changes, indicated a slight influence of ELF-EMF on offspring pathologies. Similar results were also observed in literature [21], who reported that the pathological changes observed in 21-day-old mice that were exposed to fields of different intensities and frequencies were not specific to EMF exposure. In the present study, the only statistically significant observations in the dams were myocardial hypertrophy in the exposed and splenic erythrocatheresis in the control ones.…”

Stimulation of Haemopoetic Activity in Bone Marrow and Deformation of Red Blood Cells in Albino Mice, <i>Mus musculus</i> Exposed to Radiations from GSM Base Stations

“…A progressive increase in lymphocyte percentage was observed in the mice in both station 1 and 2 after 90 days (81.4% and 87.6% Vs 74%; p<0.05), tending towards an absolute lymphocytosis. This finding was corroborated by Gagnon et al (2003), on teratogenic effect of broadband electromagnetic field on neonatal mice (Mus musculus). Increase in the values of haematological parameters investigated in this study; strongly indicate an increase in haemopoetic process, possibly induced by electromagnetic effects on mice bone marrow stem cell proliferation and differentiation.…”

Novel role of regulatory T cells in limiting early neutrophil responses in skin

“…This occurs partly through the influence of Treg cells on neutrophil survival, as evidenced by a significantly enhanced nuclear hypersegmentation in neutrophils recovered from mice with reduced Treg‐cell numbers. Nuclear hypersegmentation is strongly associated with non‐infectious inflammatory conditions 19–21 and is historically associated with older neutrophils and prolonged survival. More recently, hypersegmented neutrophils resulting from granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor treatment, 22 exhibited increased survival and increased phagocytic and cytolytic capacity 23,24 .…”