Abstract:

Objectives: To investigate the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on the kidneys based on histopathological changes of renal damage, and to investigate the ameliorating effects of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) against EMR-induced renal damage in rats. Materials and Methods: Eighteen female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups of six rats each. Group 1 was the sham group; these rats were kept in their cages without stress or electromagnetic radiation exposure. Group 2 was exposed to 2.45 gigahertz electromagnetic radiation for 30 days. Group 3 was also exposed to 2.45 gigahertz electromagnetic radiation for 30 days (1 h/day) but received vitamin C 24 hours prior to the first exposure and daily throughout the experiment. All rats underwent nephrectomy with histopathological examination. Results: There were no pathological findings in the sham group. Significant pathological changes were observed in group 2, including tubular and glomerular damage (P<0.05). Interstitial and vascular damage was not significantly different between groups 2 and 3 (P>0.05). Tubular and glomerular damage was less severe in group 3 than in group 2 (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the sham group and group 3 in terms of tubular, glomerular, interstitial, or vascular damage (P>0.05). Conclusion: Electromagnetic radiation-induced tubular and glomerular damage in the kidney was almost completely reversed with the administration of vitamin C before electromagnetic radiation exposure.

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