Effects of whole-body 50-Hz magnetic field exposure on mouse Leydig cells.
The main goal of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of whole-body magnetic field (MF) exposure on the steroidogenic capacity of Leydig cells in vitro. In four separate experiments, male CFLP mice were exposed to sinusoidal 50-Hz, 100-microT MF. The duration of exposure was 23.5 h/day over a period of 14 days. At the end of the exposure, interstitial (Leydig) cells were isolated from the testicles of the sham-exposed and exposed animals. The cells were cultured for 48 h in the presence or absence of 1, 10, or 100 mIU/ml human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The luteinizing hormone (LH) analog hCG was used to check the testosterone (T) response of the sham-exposed controls and to evaluate the possible effect of the whole-body MF exposure on the steroidogenic capacity of Leydig cells in vitro. Testosterone content of the culture media and blood sera was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). In the cultures obtained from MF-exposed animals, the hCG-stimulated T response was significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared with the sham-exposed controls, while the basal T production of cells and the level of serum T remained unaltered. No MF exposure-related histopathological alterations were found in testicles, epididymes, adrenals, prostates, and pituitary glands. The MF exposure did not affect the animal growth rate and the observed hematologic and serum chemical variables. Our results indicate a presumably direct effect of whole-body MF exposure on the hCG-stimulated steroidogenic response of mouse Leydig cells.
Forgács
Zsolt
Z
National Institute of Chemical Safety, Budapest, Hungary. zforgacs@yahoo.com
Somosy
Zoltán
Z
Kubinyi
Györgyi
G
Sinay
Hanna
H
Bakos
József
J
Thuróczy
György
G
Surján
András
A
Hudák
Aranka
A
Olajos
Ferenc
F
Lázár
Péter
P
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000097:blood; D011840:Radiation, Nonionizing / Q000009:adverse effects; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods
D013739:Testosterone