Effects of 1950 MHz W-CDMA-like signal on human spermatozoa.
There are growing concerns about how electromagnetic waves (EMW) emitted from mobile phones affect human spermatozoa. Several experiments have suggested harmful effects of EMW on human sperm quality, motility, velocity, or the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of spermatozoa. In this study, we analyzed the effects on human spermatozoa (sperm motility and kinetic variables) induced by 1 h of exposure to 1950 MHz Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA)-like EMW with specific absorption rates of either 2.0 or 6.0 W/kg, using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer system. We also measured the percentage of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) positive spermatozoa with flow cytometry to evaluate damage to DNA. No significant differences were observed between the EMW exposure and the sham exposure in sperm motility, kinetic variables, or 8-OHdG levels. We conclude that W-CDMA-like exposure for 1 h under temperature-controlled conditions has no detectable effect on normal human spermatozoa. Differences in exposure conditions, humidity, temperature control, baseline sperm characteristics, and age of donors may explain inconsistency of our results with several previous studies. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:373-381, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Setsu
S
Nakatani-Enomoto
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Miho
M
Okutsu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Satoshi
S
Suzuki
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Ryota
R
Suganuma
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.|Department of Neurology, Center for Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation, and Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Stefan Jun
SJ
Groiss
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Suguru
S
Kadowaki
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Enomoto
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Keiya
K
Fujimori
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.|JST, Research Seeds Program, Fukushima, Japan.
Yoshikazu
Y
Ugawa
D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D060733:Electromagnetic Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000528:radiation effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D003849:Deoxyguanosine
8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG); RF exposure; mobile phone; sperm kinetic variables; sperm motility