Issue 24-4, 2025

Original article

https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2025-24-4-89-95

Ultrastructural Analysis of Mitochondria in Rat Adrenal Cortex Cells Exposed to Electromagnetic Radiation and Drinking Mineral Water

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ORCIDYury N. Korolev*, ORCIDLiudmila A. Nikulina, ORCIDLyubov V. Michailik

National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology, Moscow, Russia


ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION.  The application of therapeutic physical factors, different in their nature, such as low-intensity ultrahigh frequency electromagnetic radiation (UHF EMR) and drinking sulphated mineral water (MW), causes the increase of regeneration processes of intracellular ultrastructures, including mitochondria. Meanwhile, the mechanisms of development of these adaptation reactions remain understudied. Further study of mitochondria exposed to microwave EMR and drinking sulfate MW should be carried out in cells of the of the fascicular zone of the adrenal glands — adrenocorticocytes (ACC), which play an important role in regulating adaptation processes in the body.

AIM.  To study the nature and development features of adaptive ultrastructural changes in the mitochondria of the ACC of the fascicular zone of the adrenal glands of rats that are exposed to microwave EMR and drinking sulfate MW.

MATERIALS AND METHODS.  Experiments were conducted on 23 white nonlinear male rats. All animals were divided into groups: the 1st experimental group — the effect of microwave EMR; control — false procedures (without turning on the device). The 2nd experimental group — the effect of drinking sulfate MW; control — tap water. A group of intact animals was also used. A course of microwave EMR (10 procedures) was performed on the lumbar region (the area of projection of the adrenal glands) using the Aquaton — 2 devices (power flow area of 1 MW/cm2, frequency of about 1000 MHz, exposure time 2 minute). Drinking magnesium-calcium-sodium sulfate MV (sulfate ion concentration — 1.93 g/l, mineralization — 3.05 g/l) was administered intragastrically in 3 ml, for a total of 16 procedures. The object of the study: ACC of the fascicular zone of the adrenal glands. Research methods: transmission electron microscopy, morphometry.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.  The use of microwave EMR and drinking sulfate MW caused increased regenerative-hyperplastic processes in ACC mitochondria of varying intensity and increased their bioenergetic potential. The results of the study make it possible to understand the characteristic features in the mechanisms of action of microwave EMR and drinking sulfate MW on the processes of regeneration and bioenergetic adaptation in ACC mitochondria, which should be taken into account when developing new methods of prevention and rehabilitation in the clinic.

CONCLUSION.  The use of microwave EMR and drinking sulfate MW caused increased regenerative-hyperplastic processes in ACC mitochondria of varying intensity and increased their bioenergetic potential. The results of the study make it possible to understand the characteristic features in the mechanisms of action of microwave EMR and drinking sulfate MW on the processes of regeneration and bioenergetic adaptation in ACC mitochondria, which should be taken into account when developing new methods of prevention and rehabilitation in the clinic.


KEYWORDS: mitochondria, organoid and intraorganoid forms of regeneration, adrenocorticocytes, electromagnetic radiation, drinking sulfate mineral water, experiment

FOR CITATION:

Korolev Yu.N., Nikulina L.A., Michailik L.V. Ultrastructural Analysis of Mitochondria in Rat Adrenal Cortex Cells Exposed to Electromagnetic Radiation and Drinking Mineral Water. Bulletin of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2025; 24(4):89–95. https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2025-24-4-89-95 https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2025-24-4-89-95 (In Russ.). 

FOR CORRESPONDENCE:

Yury N. Korolev, Е-mail: korolev.yur@yandex.ru, korolevyn@nmicrk.ru


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