Effects of non-contact electric fields on the kidneys and livers of tumour-bearing rats.

BACKGROUND

A novel modality of cancer treatment based on exposure to non-contact electric fields called Electro-Capacitive Cancer Therapy (ECCT) has been developed. However, the effects of this modality on vital organs during cancer treatment have not been fully investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of non-contact electric field exposure on kidney and liver structures.

METHODS

Female rats were randomly divided into one control group and three treatment groups with six replications each. Animals were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight for mammary tumour induction. Animals were then exposed to electric fields (100 kHz, 50-60 V/m) for 10 hours a day for three weeks. Two kidney samples and two liver samples from different animals in each group were collected for observation of structural damage to the organs. Histopathological cross-sections of the kidneys and livers were made using the paraffin method and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. Histological scoring used the post-examination masking method with 100 visual fields per group.

RESULTS

There was no significant damages to the tubules, glomeruli, and interstitial of the kidneys, including congestion, after exposure to non-contact electric fields. In addition, healthy rats exposed to this electric field showed significantly lower renal interstitial damage. There was no significant cellular damage, congestion, and haemorrhage in the livers of all groups, except in the healthy rat group that showed significantly higher haemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to non-contact electric fields may cause haemorrhage in the livers of healthy rats. However, in kidney tissue, exposure to this electric field was tolerable, and can even decrease the number of inflammations and haemorrhages in healthy rats.