Effects of 50 Hz Magnetic Field on the Testes and Sperms of Adult AlbinoRats

摘要

This study evaluates the ‘effect of 50 Hz magnetic field’ on the testicular gross morphology and histology,sperm morphology and meiotic chromosomes of adult Albino rats. The rats were divided into three groups; Control andtwo exposed groups to 0.15 mT and 20 mT. Thirty seven rats were included in each group. The exposure time lasted for 2weeks, 3 days/week and 1/2 hour/day. After exposure, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and handled forevaluation. One of the testes was examined for gross morphological and histopathological changes. The other one washandled for evaluation of meiotic chromosomal abnormalities in the spermatocytes. The sperms were extracted from theepididymis and vas deferens for morphological investigation.There were no observed gross morphological changes. The histopathological evaluation revealed a picture of maturationarrest at the level of the round spermatids with slight degenerative changes. These changes were more marked at the thirdgroup. The morphometric study showed reduction in the cellular surface area of the seminiferous tubules and an increasein the thickness of the basal lamina of seminiferous tubules, the ‘number of the Leydig cells in the interstitial space’ andthe surface area of blood vessels. There was no effect on either the seminiferous tubular diameter, nucleo-cytoplasmicratio of Leydig cells or the Sertoli cell number. The sperm morphological evaluation showed increase in the number ofabnormal forms due to exposure. The chromosomal investigation showed also an increase in the chromosomalabnormalities after exposure.