Placental histomorphology and morphometry in the pregnant mice treated with cell phone radiation

Introduction: The use of cell phones is widespread and there are public concerns regarding its possible deleterious effects on human health especially on the pregnancy outcomes. In this study, structural changes of the placenta after applying the cell phone radiation were examined in the mice model.   Materials and methods: For this work, 40 pregnant Balb/C mice were randomly allocated to one control and one experiment groups. The experimental animals were exposed to cell phone fields with a carrier frequency of 915 MHz, for 4 h a day continuously, during 5-17 days of gestation. On the 18th day of pregnancy, the half of each groups were sacrificed and placentas specimens were taken for histological studies. In the rest of animals, the neonates were counted and the offspring’s survival rates were determined. Also, morphometrical aspects of the placentas were studied. Results: There were no morphometric as well as light microscopic changes in the placentas between two groups. Ultrastructural results of the treated group revealed a slight elevation in the number of intra cytoplasmic droplets in the labyrinth interhemal membrane. In addition, in the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) exposed mice, the nucleus of the cytotrophoblast cells occasionally was large in the size and irregular in the shape and also had compact nucleoli. Finally, the survival rate of the neonate was not significantly affected by cell phone exposition. Conclusion: according to the results of the present study, the cell phone radiation at 915 MHz may exert deleterious effects on the placenta in the mice model.