Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Hypospermatogenesis and spermatozoa maturation arrest in rats induced by mobile phone radiation med./bio.

By: Meo SA, Arif M, Rashied S, Khan MM, Vohra MS, Usmani AM, Imran MB, Al-Drees AM

Published in: J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2011; 21 (5): 262-265

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the morphological changes induced by mobile phone exposure in the testis of rats.

Background/further details

40 male rats were divided into three groups: 1) mobile phone exposure group for 30 minutes/day (n=16), 2) mobile phone exposure group for 60 minutes/day (n=16), 3) control group (n=8).

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: morphological changes in the testis

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: unspecified Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min/day during 3 months (group 1) or continuous for 60 min/day during 3 months (group 2)	-

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	unspecified
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 30 min/day during 3 months (group 1) or continuous for 60 min/day during 3 months (group 2)
Additional info	GSM

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	mobile phone placed inside the cage and a call from another phone was answered

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Reference articles

Mailankot M et al. (2009): Radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from GSM (0.9/1.8GHz) mobile phones induces oxidative stress and reduces sperm motility in rats

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar albino
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the reproductive system: morphological changes and alterations in spermatogenesis in the testis (hematoxylin-eosin stain; light microscopy)

Investigated system:

tissue slices

Investigated organ system:

reproductive system

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Mobile phone exposure for 60 minutes/day caused hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest in the testis of the three rats (18.75%) compared to the control group. However, no abnormal findings were found in rats that were exposed for 30 minutes/day for a total period of three months.
The authors conclude that long-term exposure to mobile phone irradiation can cause hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest in the spermatozoa in the testis of Wistar albino rats.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

College of Medicine Research Centre, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Pandey N et al. (2017): Radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in testicular germ cells in swiss albino mice
Tas M et al. (2014): Long-term effects of 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation emitted from mobile phone on testicular tissue and epididymal semen quality
Atasoy HI et al. (2013): Immunohistopathologic demonstration of deleterious effects on growing rat testes of radiofrequency waves emitted from conventional Wi-Fi devices
Kumar S et al. (2013): Influence of electromagnetic fields on reproductive system of male rats
Poulletier de Gannes F et al. (2013): Rat fertility and embryo fetal development: influence of exposure to the Wi-Fi signal
Lee HJ et al. (2012): The effects of simultaneous combined exposure to CDMA and WCDMA electromagnetic fields on rat testicular function
Ozlem Nisbet H et al. (2012): Effects of exposure to electromagnetic field (1.8/0.9 GHz) on testicular function and structure in growing rats
Celik S et al. (2012): An evaluation of the effects of long-term cell phone use on the testes via light and electron microscope analysis
Kesari KK et al. (2012): Evidence for mobile phone radiation exposure effects on reproductive pattern of male rats: role of ROS
Imai N et al. (2011): Effects on rat testis of 1.95-GHz W-CDMA for IMT-2000 cellular phones
Ozguner M et al. (2005): Biological and morphological effects on the reproductive organ of rats after exposure to electromagnetic field
Dasdag S et al. (2003): Whole body exposure of rats to microwaves emitted from a cell phone does not affect the testes
Dasdag S et al. (1999): Whole-body microwave exposure emitted by cellular phones and testicular function of rats