Mohammad Suhail, Muhammad Zubair, Mustafa Raza Kazmi.
Effect of in Utero Ultrasound exposure (5MHz) on developing rat testes.
Proceeding Shaikh Zayed Postgrad Med Inst Jan ;17(1):1-5.

The frequent use of diagnostic ultrasound in various branches of medicine, particularly in Obstetrics & Gynaecology has led to consider the safety of ultrasound waves during gestation. Since the embryos and fetuses are at risk for any teratological insult, ultimately leading congenital abnormalities, therefore this study was designed to see the bioeffects of 5 MHz frequency ultrasound waves on the development of testes. Two experimental groups S2 & S3 received 6 & 9 exposures of ultrasound waves, respectively of 5 minutes duration each time, during their entire gestation. After parturition the male offsprings were selected and were grown to puberty and then dissected. Their testes were removed and were studied for gross features. The mean testicular weight in control (subgroup S1) was 2.64±0.29, while in experimental subgroups S2 & S3 was 1.99±0.29 & 1.8±0.29, respectively. The relative tissue weight index in control (group S1) was 1.64±0.18, while in the experimental groups (S2 & S3) was 1.15±0.08 and 1.1±0 .1, respectively. These results showed statistically significant reduction of mean testicular weight and relative tissue weight indices as compared to control (p<0.001). The comparison between experimental subgroups S2 & S3 showed statistically non significant difference (p >0.05). The conclusion drawn from this study is that ultrasound exposure of 5 MHz produced reduction in mean testicular weight but increased number of exposures did not produced more severe effects.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com