The prenatal effects of mobile microwave radiation on mice Khaled Naim Hamdi Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathological and ultrastructural prenatal effects of mobile phone microwave radiation on mice liver. Materials and methods Pregnant mice were divided into three groups of 10 animals each. Group one (G1) was the control group with mice unexposed to mobile phone. Group two (G2) mice were exposed for half-hour every day during the gestational period with the cell phone in answering state. Group three (G3) mice were exposed during the gestational period for 1 h every day with the cell phone in answering state and for 12 h while the cell phone was in standby state. The microwave radiation produced by mobile phones operated at a microwave frequency range of 900–1800 MHz. Mice fetuses were examined and then killed with an overdose of ether. Liver biopsies were prepared for histopathological and ultrastructural examinations. Results The mean body weight and length of fetuses of G3 showed a statistically significant decrease compared with G1 (P < 0.05). Congestion of the central vein and dilation of hepatic blood sinusoids were the most frequent histopathological findings. The ultrastructural results were apparent in G3 in the form of dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, loss of mitochondrial cristae and pleomorphic mitochondria, mitochondrial swelling and fragmentation, hepatocytic vaculations, nuclear inclusions, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the periportal areas, of mainly lymphocytes. The results of this study showed a significant reduction in the average body weight and length of fetuses of G2 and G3. Conclusion The ultrastructural damage observed in the examined specimens shows the hepatocellular injuries and consequent systemic impairment of body functions. Med Res J 10:41–47 c 2011 Medical Research Journal Medical Research Journal 2011, 10:41–47 Keywords: hepatocytes, mice, mobile phone microwave radiation, ultra structure, uteroplacental blood flow Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt Correspondence to Khaled Naim Hamdi, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt Tel: 0101507256; e-mail: knhprof@hotmail.com Received 4 December 2010 Accepted 20 January 2011 Introduction Mobile phones and cell towers are the most common sources of microwave radiations (MWR). Electromagnetic radiations are waves of electric and magnetic energy moving through space. Microwave is used in telephone links, aircrafts, ships, radar, and kitchen utensils. The first mobile phone system was analog and used frequencies of 450–900 MHz. The digital system of mobile phone is operated at 1800–2100 MHz. Mobile phones are two-way radio transmitters. A part of the emitted radiation is absorbed by the user; the power of absorption is expressed as the specific absorption rate (SAR) in watts per kilogram. The effects of radiofrequency electromag- netic waves (RF-EMW) emitted from cell phones have been debated [1,2]. The effects of RF-EMW on the brain seem to be the most researched area [3]. RF-EMW emitted from the cell phones can reduce the fertilizing potential of men [4]. The RF-EMW effects on cellular organelles are controversial. RF-EMW stimulate plasma membrane NADH oxidase and extracellular superoxide production [5]. This can lead to oxidative stress and subsequent carcinogenesis [6,7]. RF-EMW can increase free-radical activity in cells [8]. MWR at cellular telephone frequency of 1.95 GHZ signal may influence the repair of radiograph-induced DNA breaks or alter the cell death pathways of the damage response [9]. RF- EMW of the commercially available cell phones may affect the fertilizing potential of spermatozoa, and this can explain the RF-EMW-related infertility cases ob- served in numerous studies [10]. Microwaves of mobile phones may decrease the number of ovarian follicles in rats. The decreased number of follicles in fetuses exposed during the prenatal life to mobile phone microwaves suggested that intrauterine exposure has toxic effects on ovaries [11]. This study aimed to evaluate the prenatal effects of mobile MWR on mice, especially on the liver. The liver cells may be vulnerable to MWR because of their high iron content; iron molecules may act similar to an antenna or a receptor for receiving MWR, much like the antenna of a TV and cell phone. Materials and methods This study was carried out in CD-1 mice that were mainly females. The average body weight was 24–30 g. The animals were obtained from the breeding unit of Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (Imbaba, Giza, Egypt). The animals were housed in 30  40  40 cm (W  L  H) plastic cages. The cage was free from all kinds of materials that could affect the electromagnetic fields. Animals were fed on cubes of crude protein minerals and fibers. Fresh vegetables and milk were also provided along with tap water ad libitum. The housing room in the Animal House of the Ain Shams Medical School, was maintained at 241C with 42 ± 5% relative humidity and had a 12-h light–dark cycle (light on during 06:00–18:00h). Breeding The gestational period of the CD-1 mice is approximately 20–21 days. Two adult virgin female mice with one adult male mouse were housed in a wire cage overnight from Original article 41 2090-6242 c 2011 Medical Research Journal DOI: 10.1097/01.MJX.0000397212.31669.36 Copyright © Medical Research Journal. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.