title: Exposure to 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation induces oxidative DNA base damage in a mouse spermatocyte-derived cell line.
abstract: Whether exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) emitted from mobile phones can induce DNA damage in male germ cells remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a 24h intermittent exposure (5 min on and 10 min off) of a mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cell line to 1800 MHz Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) signals in GSM-Talk mode at specific absorption rates (SAR) of 1 W/kg, 2 W/kg or 4 W/kg. Subsequently, through the use of formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (FPG) in a modified comet assay, we determined that the extent of DNA migration was significantly increased at a SAR of 4 W/kg. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that levels of the DNA adduct 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) were also increased at a SAR of 4 W/kg. These increases were concomitant with similar increases in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS); these phenomena were mitigated by co-treatment with the antioxidant α-tocopherol. However, no detectable DNA strand breakage was observed by the alkaline comet assay. Taking together, these findings may imply the novel possibility that RF-EMR with insufficient energy for the direct induction of DNA strand breaks may produce genotoxicity through oxidative DNA base damage in male germ cells.
authors: Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China.
authors: Chuan
authors: C
authors: Liu
authors: Weixia
authors: W
authors: Duan
authors: Shangcheng
authors: S
authors: Xu
authors: Chunhai
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Mindi
authors: M
authors: He
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Zhengping
authors: Z
authors: Yu
authors: Zhou
authors: Z
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D016877:Oxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C024829:8-hydroxyguanine; D006147:Guanine; D004247:DNA; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol