OBJECTIVETo explore the biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation in mice.

METHODSThe biological effects of infrasound on the activities of 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-betaHSDH) and acid phosphatase(ACP) of the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculate were observed when exposure to 8 and 16 Hz infrasound at 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 dB for 1 day, 7 days and 14 days or 14 days after the exposure.

RESULTSWhen exposure to 8 Hz infrasound, the enzyme activities of 3-betaHSDH increase as the sound pressure levels increase. Only when the sound pressure levels reach 130 dB, the enzyme activities began to decrease exceptionally. When exposure to 16 Hz, 80 dB infrasound, no significant difference between the treatment and control group in the activities of 3-betaHSDH could be observed, but the injury of the polygonal cells had appeared. When exposure to 16 Hz, 100 dB infrasound, the activities of 3-betaHSDH started to increase. The cell injury still existed. When exposed to 16 Hz, 120 dB infrasound, the local tissue damage represented. Fourteen days after the mice exposure to 8 Hz, 90 dB and 130 dB infrasound for 14 days continuously, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation began to recover at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the poorer the tissue recovery.

CONCLUSIONThe biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation response to the frequency of the infrasound are found at certain action strength range, but this characteristic usually is covered by the severe tissue injury. When exposure to infrasound is stopped for a period of time, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation could recovers at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the more poorer the tissue recovery.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Adrenal Cortex ; cytology ; enzymology ; Animals ; Environmental Exposure ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Noise ; Zona Fasciculata ; enzymology ; Zona Reticularis ; enzymology

White rabbits weighing about 2kg, divided in 2 groups: the first group is administered with 5 mg, of testosterone propionate and second group administered with 50mg. The animals are killed after one, two and three weeks of administration from each group. Pituitary gland, thymus, adrenal gland and testis are removed and cut into thin preparation followed by staining with homatoxylin-eosin and van Gieson. The slides are examined microscopically and the results are as follows: 1) The chief cells and basophilic cells of anterior lobe of pituitary gland showed slight degeneration alone with vascular dilatation and congestion. s a whole, the group of massive dose revealed more severe degeneration than in the other group. 2) Thymus manifested marked congestion and severe hemorrhage, interlobular connective tissue proliferation and atrophic change in the cortex and medulla with fatty degeneration. In the group administered with massive dose, the changes are more remarkable. 3) In the adrenal gland, whole layers of cortex revealed cloudy swelling and hyaline degeneration. The cells of zona reticularis showed marked congestion. In the massive dose group, these changes are slightly more emphasized. 4) In the testis, germ cells and Sertoli cells are undergoing cloudy swelling and thickening of the basement membrane, and decreased spermatogenesis. In the group of massive dose, the changes are more prominent.
Adrenal Glands* ; Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Basophils ; Connective Tissue ; Dilatation ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Germ Cells ; Hemorrhage ; Hyalin ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior* ; Rabbits ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis* ; Testosterone Propionate ; Testosterone* ; Thymus Gland* ; Zona Reticularis