Long-Term Exposure of Rats to a 2.45 GHz Electromagnetic Field: Effects on Reproductive Function

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of electromagnetic field radiation on the sperm count, morphology, histological structure of testes, and on hormonal level of rats exposed to microwave radiation. Thirty 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) is 1.41W/Kg and electric field intensity is 60.1mV/m. Germ cell apoptosis in the testis was assessed by histopathological examination and was correlated with hormonal level of serum. Quantitative analysis of 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. The results showed that Leydig cell hyperplasia with concomitant increase in serum testosterone level and decreased spermatocyte was induced by the EMF radiation. These changes suggest that long-term exposure to EMF has adverse effects on the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia and may be important in understanding the pathogenesis of EMF-induced male infertility.