Testicular apoptosis and histopathological changes induced by a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field

Abstract

There is a growing public concern about the potential human health hazard caused by exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of 2450 mhz electromagnetic field on apoptosis and histopathological changes on rat testis tissue. Twelve-week-old male Wistar Albino rats were used in this study. Eighteen rats equally divided into three different groups which were named group I, II and III. Cage control (group I), sham control (group II) and 2.45 GHz EMR (group III) groups were formed. Group III were exposed to 2.45 GHz EMR, at 3.21 W/kg specific absorption rate for 60 minutes/ day for 28 days. There was no difference among the groups for the diameter of the seminiferous tubules, pyknotic, karyolectic and karyotic cells. However, the number of Leydig cells of testis tissue of the rats in group III was significantly reduced comparing with the group I (p < 0.05). Estimation of spermatogenesis using the Johnsen testicular biopsy score revealed that the difference between groups is statistically significant. The level of TNF-α, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were compared, and no significant difference was found between the groups. When Bax apoptosis genes and Caspase-8 apoptosis enzyme were compared, there were significant differences between the groups (p < 0.05). Electromagnetic field affects spermatogenesis and causes to apoptosis due to the heat and other stress-related events in testis tissue.

Impact of L-Carnitine and Selenium Treatment on Testicular Apoptosis in Rats Exposed to 2.45 GHz Microwave Energy

“…Our previous study showed that magnetic radiation was induced by 2.45 GHz electromagnetic radiation causing testicular apoptosis (7). Occurrence of Bax gene and caspase-3 and -8 enzymes demonstrated that electromagnetic radiation might trigger apoptosis.…”

“…The whole system performance of the exposure device was tested and checked in the Laboratory of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering (Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey). Exposure design and methodology were adapted from a similar study (7,22,23). All six rats in the groups were exposed at the same time in the exposure system.…”

“…Testes are more sensitive to a variety of stresses, such as hyperthermia, inflammation, radiation and exposure, which may result in germ cell apoptosis (4,5). Electromagnetic exposure damages the seminiferous tubules and decreases the number of Leydig cell and testosterone concentration in rats (6,7). It has been well established that testosterone is essential for spermatogenesis and the formation of spermatozoa (8,9).…”

An Experimental Multi-Frequency System for Studying Dosimetry and Acute Effects on Cell and Nuclear Morphology in Rat Tissues

“…In 28-day-old rats, reduced spermatogenesis has been observed after repeated exposure to 0.9 or 2.45 GHz radiation, together with decreased numbers of Leydig cells and increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in testicular tissue [26,27]. Once more, however, the available information is contradictory, no morphological or biochemical indications of increased apoptosis [5,28] or of pre-apoptotic states with increased caspase activity [29,30] having been observed in male sexual cells in other studies after exposure of animals to single or combined radio frequencies.…”

The effects of electromagnetic radiation (2450 MHz wireless devices) on the heart and blood tissue: role of melatonin

“…Details of the exposure system have been described in detail elsewhere (19,20). However, we reduced the power values to 1 mW/m2 in the experiments as described below.…”