title: Effects of subchronic exposure to static magnetic field on testicular function in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of static magnetic field (SMF) exposure on testicular function, antioxidant status and DNA oxidation in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male adult rats were exposed to SMF (128 mT; 1 h/day for 30 days). After sacrifice, the epididymal sperm number was counted. Testosterone concentration in plasma and testis was measured by radioimmunoassay. MDA level and GPx, CAT and SOD activities were used as markers of oxidative stress in testis. The 8-oxo-dG level is measured by the HPLC-EC system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subchronic exposure to SMF has no effect on epididymal sperm count, spermatozoa motility and genital organ weight. In contrast, SMF induces a decrease of testicular and plasmatic testosterone levels, respectively (1.48 +/- 0.56 vs. 4.66 +/- 0.51 ng/g, p<0.05; 0.97 +/- 0.16 vs. 1.64 +/- 0.18 ng/mL, p<0.05). Exposed rats displayed an increase of malondialdehyde (2.01 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.47 +/- 0.06 micromol/g protein, p<0.05), metallothioneins (1.04 +/- 0.22 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.06 microg/g, p<0.05) and 8-oxo-dG concentrations (3.38 +/- 0.30 vs. 2.36 +/- 0.28 8-oxo-dG/10(6) bases, p<0.05) in the testis. In the gonad, SMF decreases the CAT (14.33 +/- 1.16 vs. 21.67 +/- 2.05 U/mg protein, p<0.05), GPx (177.40 +/- 5.97 vs. 237.20 +/- 15.65 U/mg protein, p<0.05) and mitochondrial Mn-SOD (2.95 +/- 0.10 vs. 3.53 +/- 0.29 U/mg protein, p<0.05) activities. However, cytosolic CuZn-SOD activity is unaffected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subchronic exposure to SMF failed to alter spermatogenesis in rat testis. In contrast, the same treatment decreased testosterone levels and induced DNA oxidation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie Intégrée, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Jarzouna, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Salem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amara
authors.forename: Hafedh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdelmelek
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garrel
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guiraud
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Douki
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ravanat
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Favier
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakly
authors.forename: Khémais
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ben Rhouma
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013739:Testosterone; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D004247:DNA; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003849:Deoxyguanosine