Pathological changes of rats¬ð retina after exposure to pulsed electromagnetic radiation

    XU Hui1, SHEN Xueª²Feng1, LUO Wenª²Jing1, HE Guangª²Bin2, YANG Yanª²Xia1, CHEN Jingª²Yuan1, LIU Yiª²Ping3, WANG Qiang1

    1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Preventive Medicine, 2Department of Ultrasonographic Diagnostics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China, 3Institute of Microbiology Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To observe the pathological changes of retina of rabbits after exposure to pulsed electromagnetic radiation (EMR). METHODS: Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, with 6 in each group. One served as control group and the others were respectively exposed to the high power ultra band wave and the durations of exposure were 2, 12, 24 and 72 hours, respectively. After the exposure, the retinas were examined with light and electron microscope. RESULTS: Under light microscope, irregular nucleoplasm and unclear border of nucleus in the ganglion cell layer were found in the experimental groups of 2 h, 12 h and 24 h. These changes were also found in the inner nucleus layer. Under the electron microscope, swollen mitochondria and vacuolized endoplasmic reticulums were found in all the layers of retina in the groups of 2 h, 12 h and 24 h, most obvious in the group of 24 h. In the group of 72 h, only lightly swollen mitochondria and dilated endoplasmic reticulums were found in the ganglion cell layer of retina. CONCLUSION: The retinas have some pathological structural changes in all the layers within 24 h after exposure and the changes will recover after 72 h. ......