title: Effects of prenatal 900 MHz electromagnetic field exposures on the histology of rat kidney.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To research the harmful effects of prenatal exposure of 900 megahertz (MHz) electromagnetic field (EMF) on kidneys of four-week-old male rats and to determine protective effects of melatonin (MEL) and omega-3 (ω-3).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one Wistar albino rats were randomly placed into seven groups as follows: Control (Cont), Sham, MEL, ω-3, EMF, EMF+ MEL and EMF+ω-3. After mating, three groups (EMF, EMF+ MEL, EMF+ ω-3) were exposed to an EMF. In the fourth week subsequent to parturition, six rats were randomly chosen from each group. Mean volume of kidneys and renal cortices, the total number of glomeruli and basic histological structure of kidney were evaluated by stereological and light microscopical methods, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stereological results determined the mean volume of the kidneys and cortices were significantly increased in EMF-exposed groups compared to the Cont group. However, EMF-unexposed groups were not significantly modified compared to the Cont group. Additionally, the total number of glomeruli was significantly higher in EMF-unexposed groups compared to the Cont group. Alternatively, the number of glomeruli in EMF-exposed groups was decreased compared to the Cont group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal exposure of rat kidneys to 900 MHz EMF resulted in increased total kidney volume and decreased the numbers of glomeruli. Moreover, MEL and ω-3 prevented adverse effects of EMF on the kidneys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical Park Hospital , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulubay
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yahyazadeh
authors.forename: Ö Gülsüm
authors.initials: ÖG
authors.lastname: Deniz
authors.forename: Elfide Gizem
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Kıvrak
authors.forename: B Zuhal
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Altunkaynak
authors.forename: Gülünar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000528:radiation effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
keywords: EMF-exposure; histopathology; kidney development; rat; stereology