Combined Exposure of Peripubertal Male Rats to the Endocrine-Disrupting Compound Atrazine and Power–Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Causes Degranulation of Cutaneous Mast Cells: A New Toxic Environmental Hazard?

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Abstract

The effects of single and combined treatments of the endocrine-disrupting compound atrazine and the power–frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) were investigated on cutaneous mast cells in juvenile/peripubertal male Wistar rats. Animals were divided into six groups: (1) 4 h/day exposure to EMFs (50 Hz), (2) 20 mg/kg of body weight (bw) of atrazine, (3) 200 mg/kg bw of atrazine, (4) EMFs with 20 mg/kg bw of atrazine, (5) EMFs with 200 mg/kg bw of atrazine, and (6) control. Both the atrazine and the combined treatments, but not the single EMF exposure, increased the number of degranulated mast cells. Statistically significant differences were demonstrated between the control and both of the combined treatments (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, low and high doses of atrazine combined with the EMFs were found significantly different when compared to the EMF group alone (both at p < 0.001). Considering the biological importance of mast cells in cutaneous immune reactions, future studies should reveal whether combined exposures to chemical and physical environmental agents pose a serious health risk.

Keywords

Mast Cell Atrazine Amitrol Atrazine Exposure Atrazine Treatment 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Acknowledgments

The work was supported by the Serbia Ministry of Science and Technological Development grant No. 153001B (Belgrade, Serbia) and, partly, by the Cancer och Allergifonden (Stockholm, Sweden), the Hjälpfonden (Stockholm, Sweden), and the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden). The authors thank Ms. Milena Stosic for skilful technical assistance. The authors also thank Ms. Margareta Krook-Brandt (at the Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, The Medical Statistics Service Group, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden) for expert support with the statistical evaluation.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Vesna Rajkovic
    • 1
  • Milica Matavulj
    • 1
  • Olle Johansson
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of Novi SadNovi SadSerbia
  2. 2.Experimental Dermatology Unit, Department of NeuroscienceKarolinska InstituteStockholmSweden

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