The effect of 2.45 GHz non-ionizing radiation on the structure and ultrastructure of the testis in juvenile rats
Abstract
The effect of 2.45 GHz non-ionizing radiation on the structure and ultrastructure of the testis in juvenile rats Šimaiová V, Almášiová V, Holovská K, Kisková T, Horváthová F, Ševčíková Z, Tóth Š, Raček A, Račeková E, Beňová K, Dvořák P, Cigánková V. The effect of 2.45 GHz non-ionizing radiation on the structure and ultrastructure of the testis in juvenile rats. Histol Histopathol. 2018 Sep 27:18049. doi: 10.14670/HH-18-049. Abstract BACKGROUND: Nowadays, mobile devices that emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) are predominantly used by juveniles and pubescents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of whole body pulsed EMR on the juvenile Wistar albino rat testis at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and mean power density of 2.8 mW/cm². METHODS: The investigated animals (n=24) were divided into two control and two EMR groups (5 and 6 week old rats; 6 rats per group). Both EMR groups were irradiated continually for 3 weeks (2h/day) from postnatal days 14 and 21, respectively. RESULTS: EMR caused an irregular shape of seminiferous tubules with desquamated immature germ cells in the lumen, a large number of empty spaces along the seminiferous epithelium and dilated and congested blood vessels in the interstitial tissue of the testis. The cytoplasm of Sertoli cells showed strong vacuolization and damaged organelles, with the cytoplasm full of different heterophagic and lipid vacuoles or the cytoplasm of spermatocytes with swollen mitochondria in both irradiated groups. A significant increase in the total tubular area of seminiferous tubules was observed in both EMR groups compared with controls (P<0.001). A significant increase in the TUNEL-positive apoptotic nuclei (P<0.01) was accompanied by a significant rise in both Cu-Zn- SOD (P<0.01) and Mn-SOD (P<0.001) positive cells in the 6 week old experimental rats compared to control animals. CONCLUSION: Our results confirmed a harmful effect of non-ionizing radiation on the structure and ultrastructure of the juvenile rat testis. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov All experimental rats were exposed to whole-body pulsed non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and mean power density of 2.8 mW/ cm² in a purpose-designed chamber (Fig. 1). The uniformity of the electromagnetic field was monitored with a spectral analyser.
AI evidence extraction
Main findings
Compared with controls, 2.45 GHz whole-body pulsed EMR exposure (mean power density 2.8 mW/cm²) was associated with irregular seminiferous tubules, desquamated immature germ cells, empty spaces in seminiferous epithelium, and dilated/congested interstitial blood vessels. Both exposed groups showed increased seminiferous tubule total area (P<0.001); in 6-week-old experimental rats, TUNEL-positive apoptotic nuclei increased (P<0.01) along with increases in Cu-Zn-SOD (P<0.01) and Mn-SOD (P<0.001) positive cells.
Outcomes measured
- Testis structure/ultrastructure (histology)
- Seminiferous tubule morphology and total tubular area
- Apoptosis (TUNEL-positive nuclei)
- Oxidative stress markers (Cu-Zn-SOD positive cells, Mn-SOD positive cells)
- Vascular changes in interstitial tissue
Limitations
- Small group sizes (6 rats per group)
- Exposure metric reported as mean power density; SAR not reported
- Animal model; generalizability to humans not established in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
"study_type": "animal",
"exposure": {
"band": "microwave",
"source": "purpose-designed chamber (whole-body pulsed EMR)",
"frequency_mhz": 2450,
"sar_wkg": null,
"duration": "3 weeks, 2 h/day (starting postnatal day 14 or 21)"
},
"population": "juvenile Wistar albino rats (5 and 6 week old)",
"sample_size": 24,
"outcomes": [
"Testis structure/ultrastructure (histology)",
"Seminiferous tubule morphology and total tubular area",
"Apoptosis (TUNEL-positive nuclei)",
"Oxidative stress markers (Cu-Zn-SOD positive cells, Mn-SOD positive cells)",
"Vascular changes in interstitial tissue"
],
"main_findings": "Compared with controls, 2.45 GHz whole-body pulsed EMR exposure (mean power density 2.8 mW/cm²) was associated with irregular seminiferous tubules, desquamated immature germ cells, empty spaces in seminiferous epithelium, and dilated/congested interstitial blood vessels. Both exposed groups showed increased seminiferous tubule total area (P<0.001); in 6-week-old experimental rats, TUNEL-positive apoptotic nuclei increased (P<0.01) along with increases in Cu-Zn-SOD (P<0.01) and Mn-SOD (P<0.001) positive cells.",
"effect_direction": "harm",
"limitations": [
"Small group sizes (6 rats per group)",
"Exposure metric reported as mean power density; SAR not reported",
"Animal model; generalizability to humans not established in abstract"
],
"evidence_strength": "low",
"confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
"peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
"keywords": [
"2.45 GHz",
"microwave",
"non-ionizing radiation",
"pulsed EMR",
"whole-body exposure",
"juvenile rats",
"testis",
"seminiferous tubules",
"Sertoli cells",
"apoptosis",
"TUNEL",
"SOD",
"oxidative stress"
],
"suggested_hubs": []
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.
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