The effect of prenatal exposure to 900-MHz electromagnetic field on the 21-old-day rat testicle
Introduction
Intensive use in daily life of devices with an electromagnetic field (EMF) effect, such as radios, televisions, computers and mobile phones, results in constant exposure to the effect of EMF. The fact that more than 80% of people in many countries use mobile phones has further increased concerns about the effect of EMFs associated with mobile phone use [1]. The effects of mobile phone use during pregnancy on the developing embryo/fetus have also attracted the interest of researchers. However, the kind of effect that EMF has or may have on the embryo and fetus is still the subject of debate.
A significant part of the studies performed maintain that the effect of EMF may affect embryo and fetus development and that this may compromise the normal development of vital organs [2], [3], [4], [5]. Studies have also maintained that follicular capacity can decline in female rats exposed to the effect of EMF from fertilization to the implantation period, and that this may have an adverse impact on females’ reproduction potential [6]. All these studies suggest that testis development in male offspring of female rats exposed to the effect of EMF may be also compromised. The reason for this is testis growth beginning in approximately the second week of pregnancy in rats [7], [8], [9]. Studies have shown that the EMF in rats exposed to a low wave frequency (50 Hz) EMF during and after pregnancy increases germ cell death and gives rise to a high apoptotic index (AI) by inducing apoptosis in spermatogenic cells [10].
Our scan of the relevant sources revealed no studies of the effect of a 900-MHz EMF applied for 1 h between the 13th and 21st days of the prenatal period on the testes of young rats. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of 900-MHz EMF applied during the prenatal period on the testes of 21-day-old rats using histopathological, morphometric and biochemical techniques.
Section snippets
Study design and animals
This was a randomized, controlled, nonblinded interventional animal study. Animal experiments and procedures were performed in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and was approved by the Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) Medical Faculty Local Animal Ethical Committee. A total of 40 rats were used in the study, 20 pregnant healthy Sprague Dawley females (6–8 weeks old, weighing 180–250 g), and 20 newborn
Results
Histopathological evaluation from the H&E testicle sections was performed under light microscopy at a magnification of ×400. Normal architecture was seen in seminiferous tubules, Leydig cells in interstitial tissue and cells belonging to spermatogenic series in the NCG testis sections. No pathological finding was encountered in the NCG testes (Fig. 3A). However, non-matured germ cells in the seminiferous tubule lumen (Fig. 3B) and edema in the interstitial space, irregularities in the
Discussion
GSM-900 is widely used cellular communication system in Europe and the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world [3], [4], [5], [11]. We therefore investigated the effect on the rat pup testis of EMF at a frequency of 900-MHz by keeping that 900-MHz frequency fixed in the prenatal period. The effect of EMF on the male reproductive system is still the subject of serious controversy. Some studies have reported that EMFs have cytotoxic effects on spermatogonia, increase AI, decelerate
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2018, Reproductive ToxicologyCitation Excerpt :Bin-Meferij and El-Kott [56] reported a significant decrease in LPO (MDA) levels caused by a 900-MHz EMF administered over eight weeks and also observed a significant decrease in CAT and SOD levels. Hancı et al. [14] reported a significant variation in LPO (MDA) levels in their study of the effects on testis tissue of 90-MHz EMF applied in the prenatal period (prenatal days 13–21), while Odacı et al. [48] reported no significant difference in either tissue or serum MDA levels. Ozguner et al. [20] reported a significant increase in tissue MDA levels following EMF application.