The Effects of Different Schedules of Far-infrared Rays (FIR) on Uterine Adenomyosis in SHN Mice

Abstract

The SHN strain of virgin mice is characterized by a high susceptibility to both mammary tumours and uterine adenomyosis, which are considered to have similar etiological backgrounds. We previously studied the effects of different schedules of irradiation of far-infrared rays (FIR) and/or whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) with FIR on spontaneous mammary tumourigenesis in SHN mice. In the present study, the development and growth of uterine adenomyosis were examined in these mice. Continued exposure to FIR after 2 or 5 months of age and WBH between 2 and 4 months of age alone or in combination with FIR markedly inhibited mammary tumour development ; however, the development of adenomyosis was suppressed by exposure to FIR from the fetus and WBH alone or in combination with FIR. Neither FIR nor WBH was effective in inhibiting the growth of adenomyosis, though WBH inhibited the growth of mammary tumours. The results suggest that mammary and uterine lesions do not always have a similar response/susceptibility to FIR. However, they indicate a promising protective role for FIR, especially WBH with FIR, in disorders of the uterine and other female genital tracts.