• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2017

The effect of electromagnetic field on aquatic organisms has received little attention. In the current study, the effect of 50Hz electromagnetic field on muscle histopathology of Caspian Sea Cyprinus carpio, a species of economic importance, was investigated. A total of 120 healthy fish were used in this study. They were classified randomly in one of two groups as follows: Control or unexposed EMF group and experimental group with 5 different magnetic field intensities (0.1, 1, 3, 5 and 7mT) at 2 different exposure times including 30 and 60 minutes. Fish in the experimental group were exposed only once. Two weeks after exposure, dorsal muscles sectioned transversely, stained and were examined using a light microscope. Histopathologic assessments showed significant difference between control and EMF exposed groups at both 30 min. (p<0.01) and 60 min. (p<0.001) exposure times. We report for the first time that electromagnetic field in interaction with muscular tissue of Cyprinus carpio exhibits a dual effect which depends on the field intensity, and exposure time. At short exposure time (30 min.), EMF stimulates muscle growth process. At longer exposure time (60 min.), EMF can damage muscle tissue and result in muscle necrosis. More research is required to elucidate precise mechanisms involved in muscle hypertrophy and pathologic changes.