The effects of exposure of mice to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) on the cell cycle and DNA damage in sperms and testes histology should be investigated.
Mice were divided into 5 groups (n=15 each): exposure to the electromagnetic field for 1) 4 h/day for 35 days, 2) 4 h/day for 35 days and subsequent unexposed maintenance for 35 days, 3) 8 h/day for 35 days, 4) 8 h/day for 35 days and subsequent unexposed maintenance for 35 days, 5) control group. Groups 2 and 4 were used to analyze post-exposure recovery effects.
Exposure | Parameters |
---|---|
Exposure 1:
902.4 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
4 h/day for 35 days
|
|
Exposure 2:
902.4 MHz
Modulation type:
pulsed
Exposure duration:
8 h/day for 35 days
|
|
Frequency | 902.4 MHz |
---|---|
Type | |
Exposure duration | 4 h/day for 35 days |
Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
power density | 2.717 W/m² | maximum | measured | - | at minimum distance of animals to antenna (4.5 cm) |
power density | 0.284 W/m² | minimum | measured | - | at maximum distance of animals to antenna (22.5 cm) |
SAR | 0.0516 W/kg | maximum | - | - | - |
SAR | 0.0054 W/kg | minimum | - | - | - |
power | 250 mW | mean | measured | - | - |
Frequency | 902.4 MHz |
---|---|
Type | |
Exposure duration | 8 h/day for 35 days |
Exposure source |
|
---|
Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
power density | 2.717 W/m² | maximum | measured | - | at minimum distance of animals to antenna (4.5 cm) |
power density | 0.284 W/m² | minimum | measured | - | at maximum distance of animals to antenna (22.5 cm) |
SAR | 0.0516 W/kg | maximum | - | - | - |
SAR | 0.0054 W/kg | minimum | - | - | - |
power | 250 mW | mean | measured | - | - |
Exposure to the electromagnetic field of groups 3 and 4 caused a significantly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential compared to the control group, though potential was higher after recovery (group 4). Depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane leads to impaired cellular redox homeostasis causing oxidative stress.
The number of abnormal sperm cells with head defects was significantly increased in exposure groups 1, 3 and 4 compared to the control group.
Analysis of germ cell subpopulations in testis showed a significant increase of spermatogonia and a significant decrease in spermatids in groups 3 and 4 compared to the control group. This indicated cell cycle arrest in the pre-meiotic stage of spermatogenesis, which resulted in loss of post-meiotic germ cells.
Histological investigation showed significantly reduced epithelial area and significantly increased loss of tissue in seminiferous tubules in group 3 compared to the control group, but not in group 4. DNA damage was significantly increased in exposure groups 1, 3 and 4 compared to the control group, with most damage found in groups 1 and 3.
The authors conclude that exposure of mice to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) might induce oxidative stress, which causes DNA damage that leads to alterations of the cell cycle and to testicular damage. However, these effects might be reversible.
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