Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Effect of a 20 kHz Sawtooth Magnetic Field Exposure on the Estrous Cycle in Mice

  • Jung, Kyung-Ah (Department of Practical Arts Education, Chuncheon National University of Education) ;
  • Ahn, Hae-Sun (Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University) ;
  • Lee, Yun-Sil (Laboratory of Radiation Effect, Korea Cancer Center Hospital) ;
  • Gye, Myung-Chan (Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University)
  • Published : 2007.03.31
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Abstract

Abstract Female mice post weaning were exposed to 20 kHz sawtooth electric and magnetic fields (EMF) with $6.25{\mu}T$ 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.

Keywords

References

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