The effects of high-speed train noise on tissue morphology of the rat central nervous system

In order to investigate the effects of high-speed train noise exposure on tissue morphology of the rat central nervous system, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to the Day-Night Equivalent Noise Levels (L_dn) of 70 dB noise sampled from high-speed trains. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to observe neurons and synapses morphology of hippocampus, temporal lobe and amygdala respectively. The results showed that after 90 days´ high-speed train noise exposure, neurons of the hippocampus, temporal lobe and amygdala of model group presented nuclear condensation and fragmentation, nucleolus fuzzy; synaptic cleft was vague, postsynaptic density (PSD) decreased, mitochondria and synaptic vesicles reduced accordingly, compared to control group. In conclusion, high-speed train noise exposure may damage the tissue morphology of the central nervous system, or even cause apoptosis, and may affect cognition, learning and memory function of rats.