Effects of a unique electromagnetic field system on the fertility of rats.
The authors investigated the fertility of male and female rats exposed to a unique-design electromagnetic apparatus (Hivex Electromagnetic Field System-5 [EMFS-5]), which establishes an omni-directional, spatial field and has a wide band range of 100 MHz-3 GHz. We used 32 male and 32 female rats that were proven breeders. Sixteen rats from each sex were exposed to the EMFS for 8h/day for 10 days. The others were sham exposed. The rats were divided into the following 4 groups: in group AG1-AG8, males and females were exposed; in group AG9-AG16, only females were exposed; in group AG17-AG24, only males were exposed; and in group AG25-AG32, males and females were sham exposed. After exposure for each group, a male rat was cohabited with a female rat until parturition. The authors' results showed that except for 1 male, the fertility of all other rats was not affected. They did not see differences in reproductive ability (latency to parturition, litter size, number of male/female pups, male-to-female ratio, mass of pups at weaning) between experimental groups and the sham exposed group. The authors concluded that exposure of male and female rats to the Hivex EMFS-5 does not affect fertility or reproductive ability.
Gathiram
Prem
P
Department of Family Medicine at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. gathiramp@ukzn.ac.za
Kistnasamy
Barry
B
Lalloo
Umesh
U
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008098:Litter Size / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017678:Sex Distribution