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KMID : 0358320070480121308
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Korean Journal of Urology
2007 Volume.48 No. 12 p.1308 ~ p.1314
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Long-Term Exposure of Rats to a 2.45 GHz Electromagnetic Field: Effects on Reproductive Function
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Kim Ji-Yoon
Moon Ki-Hak
Kim Hyun-Tae
Shin Hyun-Jin
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Abstract
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Purpose : We wanted to evaluate the effects of a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field(EMF) radiation on germ cell spermatogenesis.
Materials and Methods : wenty male Sprague-Dawley rats(4 weeks of age) were exposed to a 2.45 GHz EMF for 1 hour or 2 hours a day. A sham-exposed group served as the control. The whole body average specific absorption rate(SAR) was 1.41 W/kg and the electric field intensity was 60.1mV/m. The rats were confined in cages specially designed for this study, and power was generated by a magnetron. After 8 weeks of exposure, the rats were sacrificed. The testicular germ cell status was assessed by histopathological examination and this was correlated with the hormonal level of the blood serum.
Results : Quantitative analysis of the Leydig cells showed a significantly higher count in the 2 hours exposed rats than in the sham controls(p＜0.05), while the difference between the two exposed groups was insignificant. Moreover, a concomitant increase in the serum testosterone level was observed. A significantly decreased number of spermatocytes appeared at the seminiferous tubules in rats exposed for 1 and 2 hours, while this was not seen in the control.
Conclusion : These changes suggest that long-term exposure to EMF has adverse effects on the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia and this may be important in understanding the pathogenesis of EMF- induced male infertility. However, further studies are needed to investigate the effects of a longer exposure time and higher dose. (Korean J Urol 2007;48:1308-1314)
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KEYWORD
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Electromagnetic fields, Spermatogenesis, Spermatocytes, Leydig cells, Testosterone
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