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Significant technological progress in the field of wireless devices that were primarily intended for military purposes, has resulted in their common manipulation by the general population. Wi-Fi, mobile phones, and other modern devices offer many advantages to their users. On the other hand, their excessive usage creates an environmental burden, also known as electrosmog. The objective of our current study was the observation of the Wi-Fi radiation effect on the histo-logical structure of the organs in the 9-day-old chicken embryo. On day 9 of incubation, the embryological material was routinely processed for preparation of hematoxylin-eosin, picrosirius red and periodic acid Schiff stained histological sections. Radiation with a frequency of 2.4 GHz and average power density of 300 µW.m−2 applied during the entire development up to the 9th embryonic day did not fundamentally affect general organogenesis. However, in the parenchyma of organs such as the liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and gonads, as well as in the developing mesenchyme, obvious vascular congestion of the blood vessels of different caliber was observed. Also, an increase in collagen and glycosaminoglycans production in the cartilaginous matrix and perichondrium of the future bone skeleton as well as developing connective tissue was noted. Although these morphological changes were just subtle, they point to the Wi-Fi radiation’s ability to influence the histogenesis of the individual.

Cleft lip (CL), palate (CP), or both (CLP) are one of the most common congenital abnormalities in humans, causing a heavy burden to the affected and their next of kin. We examined biopsy material from CL of seven children: Six 2 to 6 month-old babies and one 4-year-old boy. The samples were taken at the first surgical cleft lip repair. Light microscopy (LM) haematoxylin and eosin stained paraffin sections and toluidine blue stained 0.5–1 μm Durcupan sections from material processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealed abnormal “ragged” wavy muscle fibres in all seven children. The routine TEM confirmed our results LM; we found no other changes in the soft tissues in TEM; blood vessels of loose connective tissue and nerve fibres were normal. Therefore, we believe that myopathic changes in the cleft lip muscle fibres cannot be of neuronal origin.

The aim of our experiment was to study how synbiotics are able to deal with the problems of post-weaning piglets. Lactobacillus plantarum - BiocenolTM LP96 (CCM 7512), Lactobacillus fermentum - BiocenolTM LF99 (CCM 7514) and flaxseed (rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) were administered to 36 conventional piglets from a problematic breed with confirmed presence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Coronavirus. The experimental piglets were supplied with probiotic cheeses and crushed flax-seed in the period starting 10 days before weaning and lasting up to 14 days post-weaning. Piglets in the control group were supplied only control cheese. The impact of such additives on the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; spectroscopic and electrophoretic assay), alteration of immunity (index of metabolic activity), jejunum histology (light microscopy), and health of conventional piglets from a problematic breed (monitoring of hematology, consistency and moisture of feces and body temperature) were examined. We found significant decrease in LDH leakage in the blood serum and tissue extracts, indicating better cell membrane integrity in the individual organs of animals. Probiotics and flaxseed applied together seem to be a good source of nutrients to improve the immune status and the integrity of jejunum mucosa during infection. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We observed the effect of cadmium (Cd group) and cadmium+zinc (Cd/Zn group) in the liver of turkeys after a 71-day exposure. The experimental birds were divided to three groups; control group (Control), group exposed to cadmium (group Cd) as CdCl2 (aqueous solution, 0.5 mg/kg feed); and group Cd/Zn exposed to the same dose of cadmium as Cd group plus zinc as ZnSO4 (aqueous solution, 90 mg/kg feed). Light and electron microscopy revealed pronounced changes in the liver of turkeys from the Cd group, such as hyperaemia, dilatation of sinusoids and accumulation of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, heterophils, and lymphocytes in sinusoids. Necrotizing hepatocytes were observed sporadically. The ultrastructural changes included swollen mitochondria with injured cristae, dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and damaged intercellular contacts between hepatocytes. In the Cd/Zn group, Zn was not able to completely protect the liver, but the changes were less pronounced. The specific activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly increased in the Cd group. Glutathione peroxidase was significantly increased in all experimental groups. In the Cd/Zn group, zinc co-administration had a protective effect on the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Exposure of turkeys to cadmium did not affect the content of TBARS in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study was to observe the chronic effects of cadmium and cadmium with zinc on the structure and histological changes in turkey liver by means of transmission electron microscopy and to examine whether concentrations of metals influence the activity of superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation in liver tissue. The ultrastructural changes were investigated in hepatocytes after 71 days exposure to cadmium (Cd group) and cadmium + zinc (Cd/Zn group). In Cd group, ultrastructural changes included swollen and round mitochondria with injured cristae, dilated rough endoplasmatic reticulum and depletion of glycogen granules. In the Cd/Zn group hepatocytes showed morphological features similar to those from the control group except the mitochondria. They had an oval or elliptical shape similar as in the control group, but the cristae were obviously loose and dissolved. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined. The specific activity of SOD was significantly increased in Cd group. In Cd/Zn group, zinc co-administration shows a protective effect. Alterations in the activitiy of superoxide dismutase showed that the toxic effect of cadmium is not only due to its high affinity for thiol groups, but also in the production of reactive oxygen species. Cadmium induced ultrastructural changes in the hepatocytes were not accompanied by a significant increase in tissue TBARS concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In utero development of organs is easily influenced by many environmental factors. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of microwave radiation (MR) at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and a specific absorption rate of 1.73 W/kg on intrauterine development of testis. Pregnant albino rats were exposed to whole-body MR for 2 hours per day throughout the pregnancy. Male offspring (n=12, age 35 days) were not exposed to MR after birth. The study revealed that MR applied in utero induced apparent structural changes in the testes, such as irregular shape of seminiferous tubules, significant decrease in the diameter of seminiferous tubules (p<0.05) and in the height of the germinal epithelium (p<0.01), disorganisation of germ cells, desquamations of immature germ cells, formation of giant multinucleated cells, and significant (p<0.01) expansion of the interstitium. At the level of transmission electron microscopy, there were observed basement membrane irregularities in seminiferous tubules, vacuolation of the cytoplasm and adversely affected organelles in Sertoli cells, germ cells, Leydig cells, peritubular and endothelial cells. The tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells were often incomplete, and necrotizing germ cells were more numerous in experimental animals compared to controls. Enhanced necrotizations of germ cells proved by a Fluoro Jade C method, and declined germ cells proliferation confirmed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen analysis, were detected in MR exposed animals. Our results revealed that the prenatal exposure to MR had an adverse effect on the postnatal testicular development in rats.

An ever-increasing use of wireless devices over the last decades has forced scientists to clarify their impact on living systems. Since prenatal development is highly sensitive to numerous noxious agents, including radiation, we focused on the assessment of potential adverse effects of microwave radiation (MR) on testicular development. Pregnant Wistar albino rats (3 months old, weighing 282±8 g) were exposed to pulsed MR at a frequency of 2.45 GHz, mean power density of 2.8 mW/cm², and a specific absorption rate of 1.82 W/kg for 2 hours/day throughout pregnancy. Male offspring were no longer exposed to MR following birth. Samples of biological material were collected after reaching adulthood (75 days). In utero MR exposure caused degenerative changes in the testicular parenchyma of adult rats. The shape of the seminiferous tubules was irregular, germ cells were degenerated and often desquamated. The diameters of the seminiferous tubules and the height of the germinal epithelium were significantly decreased (both at ∗∗p<0.01), while the interstitial space was significantly increased (∗∗p<0.01) when compared to the controls. In the group of rats prenatally exposed to MR, the somatic and germ cells were rich in vacuoles and their organelles were often altered. Necrotizing cells were more frequent and empty spaces between Sertoli cells and germ cells were observed. The Leydig cells contained more lipid droplets. An increased Fluoro Jade - C and superoxide dismutase 2 positivity was detected in the rats exposed to MR. Our results confirmed adverse effects of MR on testicular development.

Background: Nowadays, mobile devices that emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) are predominantly used by juveniles and pubescents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of whole body pulsed EMR on the juvenile Wistar albino rat testis at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and mean power density of 2.8 mW/cm²., Methods: The investigated animals (n=24) were divided into two control and two EMR groups (5 and 6 week old rats; 6 rats per group). Both EMR groups were irradiated continually for 3 weeks (2h/day) from postnatal days 14 and 21, respectively., Results: EMR caused an irregular shape of seminiferous tubules with desquamated immature germ cells in the lumen, a large number of empty spaces along the seminiferous epithelium and dilated and congested blood vessels in the interstitial tissue of the testis. The cytoplasm of Sertoli cells showed strong vacuolization and damaged organelles, with the cytoplasm full of different heterophagic and lipid vacuoles or the cytoplasm of spermatocytes with swollen mitochondria in both irradiated groups. A significant increase in the total tubular area of seminiferous tubules was observed in both EMR groups compared with controls (P<0.001). A significant increase in the TUNEL-positive apoptotic nuclei (P<0.01) was accompanied by a significant rise in both Cu-Zn-SOD (P<0.01) and Mn-SOD (P<0.001) positive cells in the 6 week old experimental rats compared to control animals., Conclusion: Our results confirmed a harmful effect of non-ionizing radiation on the structure and ultrastructure of the juvenile rat testis.