Effect of a 20 kHz sawtooth magnetic field exposure on the estrous cycle in mice.
Female mice post weaning were exposed to 20 kHz sawtooth electric and magnetic fields (EMF) with 6.25 microT peak intensity for 6 weeks. Estrous cycles were checked using vaginal smears over the last 10 days of the experimental period. The vaginal smears from EMF-exposed mice revealed an increase in the frequency of one or two phases persisting. The number of estrous cycles less than 1 was more in the EMF-exposed group than in the sham control group. Furthermore, in the EMF-exposed group, the duration of proestrous and metestrous stages of the estrous cycle was significantly increased compared with the control group. In conclusion, our results suggest that exposure to 20 kHz sawtooth EMF may affect normal cycling of the estrous cycle by disrupting the female reproductive endocrine physiology. We should not disregard the possible adverse reproductive effect of the 20 kHz sawtooth EMF generated under the occupational exposure situation in females.
Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea.
Kyung-Ah
KA
Jung
Hae-Sun
HS
Ahn
Yun-Sil
YS
Lee
Myung-Chan
MC
Gye
D000818:Animals; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D013997:Time Factors; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects