title: [Long-term microwave radiation affects male reproduction in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of long-term microwave radiation on male reproduction in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 male Wistar rats were exposed to microwave radiation with average power density of 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mW/cm2 for 4 weeks, 5 times a week and 6 minutes per time. Changes in serum testosterone, testicular index, histology and ultrastructure, and the percentage of teratospermia in the epididymis were observed dynamically at 6 h, 7 d, 14 d, 28 d and 60 d after the exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant decrease in serum testosterone concentration at 28 d after microwave radiation at 2.5, 5 and 10 mW/cm2 ([10.20 +/- 4.31] ng/ml, [5.56 +/- 3.47] ng/ml and [7.53 +/- 4.54] ng/ml) and at 60 d at 10 mW/cm2 ( [15.95 +/- 9.54] ng/ml), as compared with the control group ([23.35 +/- 8.06] ng/ml and [31.40 +/- 9.56] ng/ml) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). No significant changes were found in the testis index at 6 h -60 d after microwave radiation at the three doses, but different degrees of degeneration, necrosis and shedding of spermatogenic cells, thinning of spermatogenic epithelia, and decrease or deletion of spermatozoa were observed, and more obvious at 28 d and 60 d. Swelling and cavitation of mitochondria in all spermatogenic cells, agglutination and margin translocation of nuclear chromatin in the spermatogonial and Leydig cells were seen at 7 d and 60 d after 5 mW/cm2 microwave radiation. The rate of teratospermia of the epididymis was increased, more obviously at 7 d after 2.5, 5 mW/cm2, 60 d after 5 mW/cm2, and 7 d, 28 d and 60 d after 10 mW/cm2 microwave radiation (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term microwave radiation may cause injury to male reproduction, which is positively correlated with the radiation dose, and has an obvious late effect.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiation Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Hao-yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shui-ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rui-yun
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Ya-bing
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Li-feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hong-yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Zhen-tao
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000528:radiation effects*