Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on sexual behavior in adult male rabbit: an observational study

Abstract

The accumulating effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by a conventional mobile phone (MP) on male sexual behaviour have not yet been analyzed. Therefore, we studied these effects in 18 male rabbits that were randomly divided into phone and control groups. Six female teasers were taken successively to the male's cage and the copulatory behavior was recorded. Serum total testosterone, dopamine and cortisol were evaluated. The animals of the phone group were exposed to MPs (800 MHz) in a standby position for 8 h daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the copulatory behavior and hormonal assays were re-evaluated. Mounts without ejaculation were the main mounts in the phone group and its duration and frequency increased significantly compared with the controls, whereas the reverse was observed in its mounts with ejaculation. Ejaculation frequency dropped significantly, biting/grasping against teasers increased notably and mounting latency in accumulated means from the first to the fourth teasers were noted in the phone group. The hormonal assays did not show any significant differences between the study groups. Therefore, the pulsed radiofrequency emitted by a conventional MP, which was kept on a standby position, could affect the sexual behavior in the rabbit.

Impact of androgen deprivation therapy on sexual function

“…42 Nevertheless, this equilibrium is fragile and some studies have shown that the environment can also impact on it. Indeed, some stressors such as food restriction, [43][44][45] sleep deprivation [35][36][37][38][39] and exposure to the radiofrequency emitted by a conventional mobile phone 46,47 have been shown to be able to cause a stress sufficient enough to disturb it.…”

Is there any exposure from a mobile phone in stand-by mode?

“…Lately many papers have been published on the effect of mobile phone exposure on human semen quality [Fejes et al, 2005;Agarwal et al, 2008] as well as experimental studies on sexual behavior and testicular function in rabbits [Salama et al 2008;Salama et al, 2009 a, b]. Studies have also been done on human EEG and sleep after such exposure [Hung et al 2007].…”

Electromagnetic pollution: another risk factor for infertility, or a red herring?

“…[18][19][20] According to the authors, who allegedly performed their studies in a Japanese laboratory, the animals were kept squeezed in small cages for 8 h per day for 12 weeks during their 'exposure' from a mobile phone glued to the outside of the cage, under the rabbits' scrota. The mobile phones were set to the stand-by mode and thus did not produce any RF-EMF-there was no exposure!…”