Influence of low frequency electric and magnetic fields exposure on albino rat placentation following maternal exposure during early and late periods of embryogenesis

Background: with the phenomenal growth in the use of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields EMFs, there has been a surge of interest concerning the possible harmful biological effects of electromagnetic fields EMFs with a frequency of 50-60 Hz on the human body

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Aim of the work: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the histological changes in the placenta after exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields during two different critical periods of embryogenesis

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Methods: twenty-four pregnant albino rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: control, early exposed and late exposed. Both exposed groups were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic field of intensity 1.5G and a strong electric field of intensity 10KV/m. The EMFs exposure started from gestational day 6 through day 10 in the early exposed group and from gestational day 11 through day 15 in the late exposed group. Twenty day full term placenta were then collected and examined histological through light microscopy using hematoxylin and Eosin stains

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Results: The present study indicated that 50Hz EMFs exposure the low frequency EMFs exposure in the early and late period affect the placentation of albino rats. Also EMFs exposure in the early period cause changes in rat placenta more than that occurred in the late exposure except the deciduas was more affected in late exposure

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Conclusions: So it is suggested that exposure to appliances that producing EMFs must be limited especially during pregnancy