CHANGES IN MOUSE ADRENAL-GLAND FUNCTIONALITY UNDER 2ND-GENERATION CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO ELF MAGNETIC-FIELDS .1. MALES

The second generation of male OF1 mice chronically exposed to a magnet ic field of 50 Hz and 15 mu T were studied to elucidate the possible h istological and endocrinological alterations in adrenal gland caused b y this exposure. Animals were sacrificed at the age of 10 weeks. Corti sol plasma concentrations were determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay, and adrenal glands were studied by histopathological met hods. The body weight of the exposed animals was found to be significa ntly increased. Cortisol plasma concentration and adrenal cortex thick ness lost the daily rhythmicity. The statistical histopathological stu dy showed no differences in exposed versus control animals. However, 1 5-20% of the experimental mice present nodular cortical hyperplasia wi th hypertrophy, increase in dark cells, and islets of cells with large lipid vacuoles. At the ultrastructural level, a dramatic decrease in lipid content and increase in mitochondria and SER compartment and in the nuclear and nucleolar volumes were found in every cortical zone of the exposed animals compared with controls, as well as a large vasodi lation in the zone reticularis. No differences in the medulla of contr ol and experimental groups could be appreciated.