Abstract
With the increasing use of electronic gadgets, the effects of electromagnetic waves on sperm quality have been reported. This study evaluated the capacity of seminal antioxidants to protect spermatozoa from the effects of exposure to non-ionizing cellular phone radiation on markers of semen quality and DNA integrity in an in-vitro model. A total of seventy-three (73) patients attending a fertility centre in Sakumono, Tema metropolis were recruited for this study. About 2 - 3 mls of freshly ejaculated semen was neatly collected by masturbation with consent and analysed according to the 2010 WHO standard semen analysis. A portion of Semen was exposed to non-ionizing cellular phone radiation for three (3) hours. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity levels and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were determined before and after exposure. Data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 20.00 and Graph pad prism. DFI was positively associated with immobility (r = 0.233; p = 0.05) and negatively associated with percentage progressive motility (r = -0.258; p = 0.028), percentage total motility (r = -0.233; p = 0.05) and SOD levels (r = -0.270; p = 0.028). There was a significant positive linear relationship between SOD and progressive motility (r = 0.451; p < 0.0001), vitality (r = 0.725; p < 0.0001) and total motility (r = 0.705, p = 0.05). Higher seminal SOD level is protective against the damaging effects of electromagnetic waves on sperm quality.
Highlights
One in ten couples experience primary or secondary infertility during their reproductive years with majority of the affected residing in the developing world [1] [2]
This study evaluated the capacity of seminal antioxidants to protect spermatozoa from the effects of exposure to non-ionizing cellular phone radiation on markers of semen quality and DNA integrity in an in-vitro model
This is indicative that electromagnetic waves emitted from cellular phones can increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation causing a “heightened” oxidative stress to spermatozoa in ejaculated semen than when compared to internal/self-control not exposed to cellular phone radiation
Summary
One in ten couples experience primary or secondary infertility during their reproductive years with majority of the affected residing in the developing world [1] [2]. In developing countries, where childbearing is usually considered as social capital, it is often the female partner that is blamed for any difficulty in conception. Oxidative stress generated by free radicals in semen is a major source of DNA fragmentation, which varies from man to man. The two main antioxidant enzymes in semen, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase modulate the rate and effects of oxidative stress on spermatozoa [5]. High levels of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase have been reported to protect cultured cell lines against ionising and or non-ionising electromagnetic radiation-induced oxidative stress [6]
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