Effects of cellular phone emissions on sperm motility in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of cellular phone emissions on rat sperm cells.


METHODS
Classic experimental.


METHODS
Animal research laboratory.


METHODS
Sixteen 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g.


METHODS
Rats in the experimental group were exposed to two 3-hour periods of daily cellular phone emissions for 18 weeks; sperm samples were then collected for evaluation.


METHODS
Evaluation of sperm motility, sperm cell morphology, total sperm cell number, and mRNA levels for two cell surface adhesion proteins.


RESULTS
Rats exposed to 6 hours of daily cellular phone emissions for 18 weeks exhibited a significantly higher incidence of sperm cell death than control group rats through chi-squared analysis. In addition, abnormal clumping of sperm cells was present in rats exposed to cellular phone emissions and was not present in control group rats.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that carrying cell phones near reproductive organs could negatively affect male fertility.
Yan
Ji-Geng
JG
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA.
Agresti
Michael
M
Bruce
Tim
T
Yan
Yu Hui
YH
Granlund
Amy
A
Matloub
Hani S
HS
D000818:Animals; D040421:Cell Phone; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects