Retracted: Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on testicular function and structure in adult rabbit

Abstract

The accumulating effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by a conventional mobile phone (standby position) on the testicular function and structure are not yet fully investigated. To study these effects longitudinally, a total of 24 adult male rabbits were randomly and equally divided into three groups. Rabbits in the first (phone) group were exposed, in specially designed cages, to radio frequency emitted from the mobile phone (800 MHz) in a standby position opposite to that of testes for 8 h daily for 12 weeks. The second group consisted of the stress controls which were kept in the same kind of cages to appreciate any cage-induced anxiety. The third group included the ordinary controls which were kept in the conventional roomy cages. Semen analysis and sperm function tests (viability, hypo-osmotic swelling and acridine orange) were conducted weekly. Histological testicular sections and serum total testosterone were also evaluated. A drop in the sperm concentration appeared in the phone group at week 6. This became statistically significant at week 8, compared with the two control (stress and ordinary) groups (133, 339 and 356 x 106/mL, respectively) and to the initial sperm count (341 x 106/mL) of this group. Motile sperm population showed similarity amongst the three study groups until week 10 when it declined significantly, and thereafter in the phone and stress control groups, with more significant decline in the phone animals (50, 61 and 72.4%, respectively). Histological examination showed also a significant decrease in the diameter of seminiferous tubules in the phone group vs. the stress and ordinary controls (191 microm vs. 206 and 226 microm, respectively). The other study points did not show any difference. In conclusion, low intensity pulsed radio frequency emitted by a conventional mobile phone kept in the standby position could affect the testicular function and structure in the adult rabbit.

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

“…22 Third, the same group of MP animals represented the subjects of another two studies. Both indicated the negative influence of MPs on testicular function and structure 7 and semen fructose. 8 Interestingly, these retrieved findings were related to the oxidative stress occurring in the testes and accessory genital organs of the animals.…”

“…The first group was the MP group whose members were placed individually in specially designed cages (50 Â 25 Â 35 cm) as they represented the same material used by some previous studies. 7,8 These cages could accept placing plastic partitions according to the animal dimensions (averaged 30 Â 16 Â 18 cm), to restrict movements. Therefore, the animals rested throughout the period of the daily phone exposure with their genitalia opposing the antennas of the MPs that were fixed to the cage bottoms.…”

“…5,6 Recent studies showed the negative effect of MPs on the male genital system, both in animals 7,8 and in human subjects. 9 All these studies dealt only with the influence of MPs on testicular structure and function 7,[9][10][11] and male accessory genital organs. 8 However, no studies to date have analyzed the potential effect of exposure to EMWs emitted from MPs on male sexual behavior.…”

Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Wave Exposure from Cellular Phones on the Reproductive Pattern in Male Wistar Rats

“…Radiofrequency radiations affect Leydig cells [10], which are found adjacent to the seminiferous tubules. Moreover, a decrease in the diameter of seminiferous tubule [11,12], weight of testicular organs (i.e., caput, cauda, corpus) [13], and destruction of Leydig cells due to these radiations are possible indications of male infertility. More recently, several authors [14] have reported that electromagnetic wave affects sperm motility and it is known that a correlation exists between sperm motility and sperm chromatin damage [15].…”

Does Mobile Phone Radiation Affect Sperm Quality?

“…In that study, the sperm motility is at the same level as control up to week 10 which was followed by a significant reduction in the group that was exposed to radiation compared to the control group [19].…”