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First published online August 17, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 3322-3328 (2006)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2006
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02375
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Light and electron microscopic study of the thyroid gland in rats exposed to power-frequency electromagnetic fields

Vesna Rajkovic1,2,*, Milica Matavulj1 and Olle Johansson2

1 Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro
2 Experimental Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

* Author for correspondence at address 1 (e-mail: vesna.rajkovic{at}ib.ns.ac.yu)

Accepted 8 June 2006

The effect of 50 Hz electromagnetic field (EMF) on thyroid gland was studied using light and transmission electron microscopes. Two-month-old male rats were exposed to an EMF (100-300 µT, 54-160 V m-1) for 4 h a day, 5 days a week for 1 month. A predominance of microfollicles with less colloid content and dilated blood capillaries was found in the EMF group. Stereological counting showed a statistically significant increase of the volume density of follicular epithelium, interfollicular tissue and blood capillaries as well as the thyroid activation index, as compared to the controls. The volume density of colloid significantly decreased. Ultrastructural analysis of thyroid follicular cells in the EMF group revealed the frequent finding of several colloid droplets within the same thyrocyte with the occasional presence of large-diameter droplets. Alterations in lysosomes, granular endoplasmic reticulum and cell nuclei compared to the control group were also observed. Taken together, the results of this study show the stimulative effect of power-frequency EMF on thyroid gland at both the light microscope and the ultrastructural level.

Key words: thyroid gland, 50 Hz electromagnetic field, light microscopy, stereology, ultrastructure






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