P-198: Study Effects of EMF on Pathology of Ovary in Newborn Rats during Developmental Period

Background: The effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) as an environmental factor on different organs including female reproductive system is of critical concern. In view of the fact that embryo fetuses and young, growing animals are more susceptible to any xenobiotic during gestational and lactation stages of gonadal development may it lead to permanent damage to the gonads. The early phases of human development have scarcely been studied with regard to their correlation with EMF; therefore, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of EMF 50Hz on follicular development on neonatal rats. Materials and Methods: Pregnant wistar rats in treatment group were exposed to 3mT, EMF for 21 days, 4 hours/day. The EMF was produced by a system using 50 Hz alternative current, pregnant rats under the same condition of treatment group, but off the field as a sham group intended and pregnant rats were used as control in the room. After delivery, ovaries were removed from female pups, fixed and prepared for light microscopic studies. Results: Microscopy results revealed that in the treatment group in comparison to control group, some oocyte is partially surrounded by pre-granulosa cells, the oocyte nest appeared to be fewer in comparison to that of the control group. Few oocyte nests were binucleated. Conclusion: The current study shows that EMF exposure increases degenerative changes and oocyte nest breakdown and follicular formation, undergo a series of incomplete cell division, resulting in clusters called cysts or nest.The germ cell nest is an important developmental stage in the formation of the germ line. It is concluded that exposure to EMF during the developmental period could affect on oocyte differentiation and may result in reduced fertility by decreasing ovarian reservoir.