Fig. 4
Pathological changes detected post MCF-7 cells exposure to sole ELF-EMF, AgNPs and ELF-EMF in combination to AgNPs at different time interval using hematoxylin and eosin staining. a MCF-7 cells photomicrograph post 1 h exposure to ELF-EMF showing swollen cells, swollen nuclei with mixed euchromatin and heterochromatin (Yellow arrows) as well as ruptured cell membranes (Green arrows) in addition to intranuclear eosinophilic structures (Red arrows). e Photomicrographs following 2 h treatment with ELF-EMF revealing the occurrence of apoptosis as indicated by the observed shrunken apoptotic cells with peripheral condensation of chromatin (Green arrows) as well as necrotic cells with mixed euchromatin and heterochromatin (Yellow arrows) and swollen cell with ruptured cell membrane (Red arrow). b&f Photomicrographs of MCF-7 cells post exposure to AgNPs for 1 and 2 h, respectively revealing the presence of shrunken apoptotic cells with shrunken nuclei (Yellow arrows), peripheral condensation of chromatin (Green arrows) and irregular cell membranes (Red arrows). c Swollen necrotic MCF-7 cells and swollen nuclei with mixed euchromatin and heterochromatin and ruptured cell membranes (Blue arrows) were detected post 1 h exposure to ELF-EMF in combination to AgNPs. Shrunken apoptotic cell (Green arrow) with peripheral condensation of chromatin (Orange arrow) in addition to secondary necrotic cells with peripheral condensation of chromatin and ruptured cell membranes (yellow arrow) as well as apoptotic bodies (Red arrows) were also observed. g Photomicrograph post 2 h exposure to ELF-EMF in combination to AgNPs showing necrotic cells with mixed euchromatin and heterochromatin (Red arrows), ruptured cell membranes (Green arrows), intranuclear eosinophilic structures (Yellow arrows) and shrunken apoptotic cells with irregular cell and nuclear membranes (Black arrows). d&h Control untreated MCF-7 cells examined at 1 and 2 h, respectively showing regular cells with hyperchromatic nuclei (Original magnification 100X, Oil)