ABSTRACT
Introduction: Melatonin has been considered a potent antioxidant that detoxifi es a variety of reactive oxygen species in many pathophysiological states of eye. The present study was designed to determine the eff ects of Wi-Fi exposure on the lens oxidant, antioxidant redox systems, as well as the possible protective effects of melatonin on the lens injury induced by electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Materials and Methods: Thirty-two rats were used in the current study and they were randomly divided into four equal groups as follows: First and second groups were cage-control and sham-control rats. Rats in third group were exposed to Wi-Fi (2.45 GHz) for duration of 60 min/day for 30 days. As in the third group, the fourth group was treated with melatonin. The one-hour exposure to irradiation in second, third and fourth took place at noon each day. Results: Lipid peroxidation levels in the lens were slightly higher in third (Wi-Fi) group than in cage and sham control groups although their concentrations were signifi cantly (P < 0.05) decreased by melatonin supplementation. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was signifi cantly (P < 0.05) lower in Wi-Fi group than in cage and sham control groups although GSH-Px (P < 0.01) and reduced glutathione (P < 0.05) values were signifi cantly higher in Wi-Fi + melatonin group than in Wi-Fi group. Conclusions: There are poor oxidative toxic eff ects of one hour of Wi-Fi exposure on the lens in the animals. However, melatonin supplementation in the lens seems to have protective eff ects on the oxidant system by modulation of GSH-Px activity.