Effects of Whole-Body 50-Hz Magnetic Field Exposure on Mouse Leydig Cells

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of whole-body magnetic field (MF) exposure on the steroidogenic capacity of Leydig cells in vitro. In four separate experiments, male CFLP mice were exposed to sinusoidal 50-Hz, 100-μT MF. The duration of exposure was 23.5 h/day over a period of 14 days. At the end of the exposure, interstitial (Leydig) cells were isolated from the testicles of the sham-exposed and exposed animals. The cells were cultured for 48 h in the presence or absence of 1, 10, or 100 mIU/ml human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The luteinizing hormone (LH) analog hCG was used to check the testosterone (T) response of the sham-exposed controls and to evaluate the possible effect of the whole-body MF exposure on the steroidogenic capacity of Leydig cells in vitro. Testosterone content of the culture media and blood sera was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). In the cultures obtained from MF-exposed animals, the hCG-stimulated T response was significanly higher (p < 0.01) compared with the sham-exposed controls, while the basal T production of cells and the level of serum T remained unaltered. No MF exposure—related histopathological alterations were found in testicles, epididymes, adrenals, prostates, and pituitary glands. The MF exposure did not affect the animal growth rate and the observed hematologic and serum chemical variables. Our results indicate a presumably direct effect of whole-body MF exposure on the hCG-stimulated steroidogenic response of mouse Leydig cells.

Effects of Electromagnetic Field Exposure During the Prenatal Period on Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Pathology of Testis and Testosterone Level of Adult Rats in F1 Generation

“…This inconsistency might be due to the type, duration and intensity of the EMF applied and resonance theory (39). In this study testosterone in F 1 generation exposed in EMF has decreased, in concordance with other studies (40)(41)(42)(43). Correspondingly, further animal studies failed to detect significant alterations in testosterone level or histological alterations in Leydig cells in response to EMW (44)(45)(46).…”

Testicular development evaluation in rats exposed to 60 Hz and 1 mT electromagnetic field

“…Forgács et al . (2004) also observed that Leydig cells culture obtained from mice exposed to magnetic fields of 50 Hz and 100 µT showed an hCG‐stimulated higher testosterone response compared with the sham‐exposed controls. On the other hand, the basal testosterone production of cells and the level of serum testosterone remained unaltered.…”

Effects of electromagnetic field on testes and semen characteristicsin male New Zealand white RabbIts

“…It was reported that extremely low frequency EMF induced tissue damage in different organs of the laboratory animals (Zare et al 2007;Khayyat and Abou-Zaid, 2009). In addition, exposure to EMF adversely affects testicles and might influence spermatogenesis by distracting the functions of Sertoli and Leydig cells in experimental animals (Aydin et al 2007;Forgacs et al 2004;Khaki et al 2006).…”