In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible effect of melatonin on morphological changes in liver induced by magnetic fields exposure.
Thirty albino young male Wistar Albino rats were used in the study. They were divided into 3 groups. Control group (C) (n: 10) received daily intraperitoneal injections of saline (0.1 ml/100 g) containing 5% ethanol for two weeks.
Only magnetic field exposed (MF) group (n: 10); only magnetic field exposed had daily intraperitoneal injections of physiologic saline (0.1 ml/100 g) containing 5% ethanol for two weeks. Magnetic field exposed and melatonin treated (MF+m) group (n: 10); melatonin was dissolved in ethanol with further dilution in physiological saline. The animals in this group were exposed magnetic fields for two weeks. The magnetic fields exposed animals had intraperitoneal single dose of 4 mg/kg melatonin (0.1 ml/100 g) at 10:00 o'clock daily for two weeks following magnetic fields exposure.
We used commercial CB handheld portable transceiver, Midland (USA) labelled, of 4 Watts, 40 channel. This channel frequency has been measured 27.17 MHz with frequency counter. According to the IRPA exposure standards; for 27 MHz, for 6 min, exposure limit is 0.2 mW/cm². This value is for General Public. For occupational exposure limit is 1 mW/cm². We have to consider General Public exposure limit. Therefore our limit is 0.2 mW/cm². In other words; in this study; our exposure is always over the recommended limit. All the animals were decapitated. Liver samples were fixed in buffered neutral formalin. Paraffin sections were dyed with hematoxylen-eosin. Sections were examined under light microscopy.
In MF group; sinusoidal dilatations, mixed cell infiltrations noticed in the periportal area, necrosis and vacuoler degeneration were determined in liver samples.
However, parenchymal and stromal structures were observed to be prevented partially from effects of magnetic fields in melatonin treated group.
In conclusion, it is suggested that melatonin has a mild preventive effect on magnetic field exposed changes in liver tissue in the rats.