Medical/biological study (experimental study)

In vitro effect of pulsed 900 MHz GSM radiation on mitochondrial membrane potential and motility of human spermatozoa med./bio.

By: Falzone N, Huyser C, Fourie F, Toivo T, Leszczynski D, Franken D

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2008; 29 (4): 268-276

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study was performed to examine the effect of pulsed 900 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on human sperm motility in vitro as indicator of male fertility.

Background/further details

Semen samples were collected from healthy, nonsmoking donors (n=12) by masturbation after 2-3 days of sexual abstinence. The semen parameters of these samples were within the normal range of the WHO criteria. Samples were exposed to two different specific absorption rates (2.0 and 5.7 W/kg) and run in duplicate.
The sperm motility was assessed by objective motility measurement and by the inner mitochondrial membrane potential as its decrease is highly correlated with diminished sperm motility and fertilisation potential.

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: male fertility

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 1 h	SAR: 2 W/kg mean SAR: 5.7 W/kg mean

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 1 h

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	0.577 ms
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	monopole cavity resonator high Q, TE₁₀ mode [Leszczynski et al., 2002]
Chamber	The exposure chamber was positioned vertically inside a CO₂ incubator.
Setup	Two 55-mm glass Petri dishes were placed inside the chamber on a 9-mm thin rectangular glassfibre-moulded, temperature controlled waterbed. The surface of the culture medium was aligned parallel to the E-field vector.
Additional info	Cell temperatures measured during exposure ranged from 36.7 to 37.3 °C at 5.7 W/kg and from 36.8 to 37.2 °C at 2 W/kg.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	2 W/kg	mean	measured and calculated	-	-
SAR	5.7 W/kg	mean	measured and calculated	-	-

Additional parameter details

More than 70% of the cells were within ±3 dB of the average SAR.

Measurement and calculation details

The SAR distribution in the cell culture was determined using SEMCAD 1.8 software with a graded simulation grid, and results were verified by measurements of temperature rise using a calibrated probe.

Reference articles

Leszczynski D et al. (2002): Non-thermal activation of the hsp27/p38MAPK stress pathway by mobile phone radiation in human endothelial cells: Molecular mechanism for cancer- and blood-brain barrier-related effects

Exposed system:

semen samples

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell function: mitochondrial membrane potential (flow cytometry)
effects on the reproductive system: male fertility estimated by sperm motility (computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA))

Investigated system:

organelle/cell part
intact cell/cell culture

Investigated organ system:

reproductive system

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There was no effect of pulsed 900 MHz GSM irradiation on the mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, no changes for all kinematic sperm motility parameters assessed at a specific absorption rate of 2.0 W/kg were observed. However, two kinematic parameters of sperm's velocity and motion were significantly decreased after the exposure at the specific absorption rate of 5.7 W/kg.
Further research is relevant to clarify whether the observed effects at the specific absorption rate of 5.7 W/kg are artefacts or cellular mechanisms verifiable.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

National Research Foundation (NRF), Pretoria, South Africa
South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)
STUK (Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority), Helsinki, Finland

Comments on this article

Lerchl A (2011): Comment on "In vitro effect of pulsed 900 MHz GSM radiation on mitochondrial membrane potential and motility of human spermatozoa" by Falzone et al. (Bioelectromagnetics 29: 268-276, 2008)
Falzone N (2011): Response to comment on "In vitro effect of pulsed 900 MHz GSM radiation on mitochondrial membrane potential and motility of human spermatozoa" by Falzone et al.

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