[Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on DNA of testicular cells and sperm chromatin structure in mice].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on DNA of testicular cells and sperm chromatin structure in mice.


METHODS
Mice were exposed to 50 Hz, 0.2 mT or 6.4 mT electromagnetic fields for 4 weeks. DNA strand breakage in testicular cells was detected by single-cell gel electrophoresis assay. Sperm chromatin structure was analyzed by sperm chromatin structure assay with flow cytometry.


RESULTS
After 50 Hz, 0.2 mT or 6.4 mT EMFs exposure, the percentage of cells with DNA migration in total testicular cells increased from the control level of 25.64% to 37.83% and 39.38% respectively. The relative length of comet tail and the percentage of DNA in comet tail respectively increased from the control levels of 13.06% +/- 12.38% and 1.52% +/- 3.25% to 17.86% +/- 14.60% and 2.32% +/- 4.26% after 0.2 mT exposure and to 17.88% +/- 13.71% and 2.35% +/- 3.87% after 6.4 mT exposure (P < 0.05). Exposure to EMFs had not induced significant changes in S.D.alphaT and XalphaT, but COMPalphaT (cells outside the main population of alpha t), the percentage of sperms with abnormal chromatin structure, increased in the two exposed groups.


CONCLUSIONS
50 Hz EMFs may have the potential to induce DNA strand breakage in testicular cells and sperm chromatin condensation in mice.
Hong
Rong
R
Department of Environment Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
Zhang
Yan
Y
Liu
Yun
Y
Weng
En-qi
EQ
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*
D002843:Chromatin; D004247:DNA