Long-Term Exposure of Rats to a 2.45 GHz Electromagnetic Field: Effects on Reproductive Function.
10.4111/kju.2007.48.12.1308
- Author:
Ji Yoon KIM
1
;
Hyun Tae KIM
;
Ki Hak MOON
;
Hyoun Jin SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea. khmoon@med. yu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Electromagnetic fields;
Spermatogenesis;
Spermatocytes;
Leydig cells;
Testosterone
- MeSH:
Absorption;
Animals;
Electromagnetic Fields*;
Germ Cells;
Humans;
Infertility, Male;
Leydig Cells;
Magnets*;
Male;
Rats*;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
Seminiferous Tubules;
Serum;
Spermatocytes;
Spermatogenesis;
Spermatogonia;
Testosterone
- From:Korean Journal of Urology
2007;48(12):1308-1314
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the effects of a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field(EMF) radiation on germ cell spermatogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats(4 weeks of age) were exposed to a 2.45 GHz EMF for 1 hour or 2 hours a day. A sham-exposed group served as the control. The whole body average specific absorption rate(SAR) was 1.41 W/kg and the electric field intensity was 60.1mV/m. The rats were confined in cages specially designed for this study, and power was generated by a magnetron. After 8 weeks of exposure, the rats were sacrificed. The testicular germ cell status was assessed by histopathological examination and this was correlated with the hormonal level of the blood serum. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis of the Leydig cells showed a significantly higher count in the 2 hours exposed rats than in the sham controls(p<0.05), while the difference between the two exposed groups was insignificant. Moreover, a concomitant increase in the serum testosterone level was observed. A significantly decreased number of spermatocytes appeared at the seminiferous tubules in rats exposed for 1 and 2 hours, while this was not seen in the control. CONCLUSIONS: These changes suggest that long-term exposure to EMF has adverse effects on the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia and this may be important in understanding the pathogenesis of EMF- induced male infertility. However, further studies are needed to investigate the effects of a longer exposure time and higher dose.
