title: Preventing Electromagnetic Pulse Irradiation Damage on Testis Using Selenium-rich Cordyceps Fungi. A Preclinical Study in Young Male Mice.
abstract: Networked 21st century society, globalization, and communications technologies are paralleled by the rise of electromagnetic energy intensity in our environments and the growing pressure of the environtome on human biology and health. The latter is the entire complement of environmental factors, including the electromagnetic energy and the technologies that generate them, enacting on the digital citizen in the new century. Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) irradiation might have serious damaging effects not only on electronic equipment but also in the whole organism and reproductive health, through nonthermal effects and oxidative stress. We sought to determine whether EMP exposure (1) induces biological damage on reproductive health and (2) the extent to which selenium-rich Cordyceps fungi (daily coadministration) offer protection on the testicles and spermatozoa. In a preclinical randomized study, 3-week-old male BALB/c mice were repeatedly exposed to EMP (peak intensity 200 kV/m, pulse edge 3.5 ns, pulse width 15 ns, 0.1 Hz, and 400 pulses/day) 5 days per week for four consecutive weeks, with or without coadministration of daily selenium-rich Cordyceps fungi (100 mg/kg). Testicular index and spermatozoa formation were measured at baseline and 1, 7, 14, 28, and 60 day time points after EMP exposure. The group without Cordyceps cotreatment displayed decreased spermatozoa formation, shrunk seminiferous tubule diameters, and diminished antioxidative capacity at 28 and 60 days after exposure (p < 0.05). The Cordyceps daily cotreatment alleviated the testicular damage by EMP exposure, increased spermatozoa formation, and reduced apoptotic spermatogenic cells. These observations warrant further preclinical and clinical studies as an innovative approach for potential protection against electromagnetic radiation in the current age of networked society and digital citizenship.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: 2 Health and Epidemic Prevention Team, Navy General Hospital , Beijing, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Yafeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Haiyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Yanyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Qiyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: 3 Insititute of Disease Control and Prevention , Academy of Military Science, Beijing, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Mingjuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Radiotherapy, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Junye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 5 Central Laboratory, General Hospital of the Air Force , Beijing, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Yaning
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Guozhen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000378:metabolism*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000528:radiation effects; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000528:radiation effects; D013737:Testis / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012643:Selenium
keywords: biomarkers; diagnostic medicine; electromagnetic radiation; integrative biology; science and society