The effects of simultaneous combined exposure to CDMA and WCDMA electromagnetic fields on rat testicular function.
Wireless mobile phones and other telecommunication devices are used extensively in daily life. We therefore examined the effects of combined exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on rat testicular function, specifically with respect to sensitive processes such as spermatogenesis. Male rats were exposed to single code division multiple access (CDMA) and wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) RF signals for 12 weeks. The RF exposure schedule comprised 45 min/day, 5 days/week for a total of 12 weeks. The whole-body average specific absorption rate (SAR) of CDMA and WCDMA was 2.0 W/kg each or 4.0 W/kg in total. We then investigated the correlates of testicular function such as sperm count in the cauda epididymis, testosterone concentration in the blood serum, malondialdehyde concentrations in the testes and epididymis, frequency of spermatogenesis stages, and appearance of apoptotic cells in the testes. We also immunoblotted for p53, bcl2, GADD45, cyclin G, and HSP70 in the testes of sham- and combined RF-exposed animals. Based on the results, we concluded that simultaneous exposure to CDMA and WCDMA RF-EMFs at 4.0 W/kg SAR did not have any observable adverse effects on rat spermatogenesis.
Division of Radiation Effects, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea.
Hae-June
HJ
Lee
Yeung Bae
YB
Jin
Tae-Hong
TH
Kim
Jeong-Ki
JK
Pack
Nam
N
Kim
Hyung-Do
HD
Choi
Jae-Seon
JS
Lee
Yun-Sil
YS
Lee
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000528:radiation effects; D056746:Cyclin G / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000528:radiation effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000528:radiation effects; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D056746:Cyclin G; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D013739:Testosterone; D008315:Malondialdehyde