title: Effects of prenatal exposure to extremely low electro-magnetic field on in vivo derived blastocysts of mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Indisputable population exposure to widespread electromagnetic fields, has grown concerns over the probable health effects of these fields.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was aimed to examine the possible effects of 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure on the number and quality of mice blastocysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  In present study, 66 NMRI pregnant females divided into two treated and non-treated groups. The treated group exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz and 6×10(-3) T). Subsequently, embryos were collected by flushing the uterine horn and Fallopian tubes on the day 3 of gestation. Number of trophoectoderm (TE) and Inner Cell Mass (ICM) cells in blastocysts were determined after differential nuclei staining using a modified method. Furthermore, number of all flushed blastocysts calculated in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in mean number of blastocysts in treated (6.64±1.34) and none treated (8.22±1.59) groups. In treated group, there were significant decreased in total cell number of blastocysts (p=0.000), number of ICM cells (p=0.000), and number of TE cells (p=0.001) whereas the ratio of ICM/TE cells increased (p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate that ELF-EMF is able to affect cellular composition of blastocysts, but it can't omit total volume of blastocysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: Parvin-Dokht
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Bayat
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohmmad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Darabi
authors.affiliation: Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghanbari
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Pardis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sohouli
keywords: Blastocyst; Electromagnetic fields; Mice