[Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on male reproduction in mice].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on male reproduction in mice.


METHODS
94 adult male mice were exposed to 50 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields of 0.2, 3.2 or 6.4 mT for 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Testicular histology and weight, sperm amount, sperm motility and morphology were measured. The percentages of different ploidy cells and cell phases, and DNA content of testis cells were estimated by flow cytometry. The micronucleus rate of bone-marrow cell was also observed.


RESULTS
The testicular weight of the mice exposed to 6.4 mT for 4 weeks [(76.06 +/- 32.25) mg] was significantly lower than that of the control [(111.44 +/- 19.99) mg, P < 0.05]; no significant histopathological changes were observed on the testis in EMFs exposed mice;the sperm amount was decreased after EMFs exposure for 4 weeks, and those of the mice exposed to 0.2 mT and 6.4 mT for 4 weeks [(4.87 +/- 0.94) x 10(6)/ml and (4.30 +/- 1.89) x 10(6)/ml respectively] were significantly lower than that of the control [(6.67 +/- 0.70) x 10(6)/ml, P < 0.05]; the rates of sperm motility also showed a decline. After 0.2, 3.2 or 6.4 mT EMFs exposure for 2 weeks, the deformity rates of sperm [(7.416 +/- 3.352)%, (6.862 +/- 2.947)% and (8.112 +/- 4.615)% respectively] were significantly higher than that of the control [(4.098 +/- 2.028)%, P < 0.01]. Similarly, those of the mice exposed for 4 weeks [(10.267 +/- 3.836)%, (11.027 +/- 7.059)%, (8.814 +/- 3.678)% respectively] were higher than that of the control [(3.714 +/- 1.830)%]. After 6.4 mT exposure for 2 weeks, the percentages of 1C testis cells [(69.56 +/- 4.07)%] was significantly lower than that of the control [(73.45 +/- 3.10)%, P < 0.05]. There were not any remarkable changes in those of 2C, 4C cells. DNA content in different ploidy cells of the mice exposed to 6.4 mT was decreased. Moreover, the cell percentage in S phase was increased significantly (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
ELF EMFs exposure may have some adverse effects on reproduction in mice.
Hong
Rong
R
Department of Environmental Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
Liu
Yun
Y
Yu
Yun-mei
YM
Hu
Ke
K
Weng
En-qi
EQ
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011897:Random Allocation; D012098:Reproduction / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000528:radiation effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects
D004247:DNA