OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on fertility and heights of epithelial cells in pre-implantation stage endometrium and fallopian tube in mice.

METHODS

Eighty female NMRI mice were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group was not exposed to EMF and experimental group was exposed to 4-hour EMF per day, 6 days a week for 2 weeks to 50 Hz, 0.5 mT EMF. Female mice in two groups were superovulated and mated with male mice over night. At the time of implantation, the blastocysts were obtained from the presumed pregnant mice with vaginal plug by flushing the uterus horns. The samples of uterus horns and fallopian tubes in two groups were taken and were processed for light microscopic studies.

RESULTS

The analysis of mean number of the flushed blastocysts in the EMF group showed significant decrease as compared with the control group (P<0.03). Light microscopic study showed that the height of fallopian tube epithelial cells was significantly increased in the EMF group as compared with the control group (P<0.001). However the height of endometrial epithelial cells in the EMF group showed insignificant increase as compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that ELF-EMF has detrimental effect on female reproductive system in mice by decreasing the number of flushed blastocysts and increasing the height of fallopian tube epithelial cells.