The effect of electromagnetic field on undescended testis after orchiopexy.

PAPER pubmed International urology and nephrology 2002 Animal study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1023/a:1014473407519 PMID: 12090347 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Undescended testis is a common problem leading to infertility. After orchiopexy some studies support the necessity of hormonal therapy. Electromagnetic field stimulation on living tissues increase cell proliferation, protein and DNA synthesis. Sixteen prepubertal rats was objected to the fixation of left testes to the anterior abdominal wall for 30 days, right testes were removed. Another group of sixteen rats objected only to the right orchiectomy and a manipulation simulating study group without fixation. After orchiopexy, animals were divided into two groups. Both groups had eight rats. Electromagnetic field (EMF) stimulation group had the stimulation for two hours every day for ten days, while the second group did not. The sham group also divided into two groups. The first one applied EMF and name as Group CEM, the second one was sham. Weight of removed testes were measured and fixed in 10% formaldehyde for histopathological evaluation. At the creating of undescended testis and right orchiectomies a blood sample was obtained for testosterone level of prepubertal rats. After finishing EMF stimulation the rats were mated with females for 17 days. After fertility study a blood sample was obtained for testosterone assay and body weight were measured and fixed in formaline for histopathologic evaluation. All the rats were killed with overdose ether anesthesia and number of fetuses were recorded. Histopathological evaluation was based on Johnsen criteria and seminiferous tubule diameter measurements. We conclude that EMF stimulation resulted in Leydig cell proliferation, increase in testosterone level, testis weight, but decrease in germ cell population.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

Prepubertal rats with surgically created undescended testis after orchiopexy (and sham-operated controls)

Sample size

Exposure

· 2 hours/day for 10 days

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In this rat model, EMF stimulation after orchiopexy was concluded to result in Leydig cell proliferation and increases in testosterone level and testis weight, but a decrease in germ cell population.

Outcomes measured

Leydig cell proliferation
Testosterone level
Testis weight
Germ cell population
Histopathology (Johnsen criteria)
Seminiferous tubule diameter
Fertility (number of fetuses)

Limitations

EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, intensity, SAR) not reported in the abstract
Animal study; generalizability to humans is unclear
Small group sizes (8 rats per subgroup)

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "2 hours/day for 10 days"
    },
    "population": "Prepubertal rats with surgically created undescended testis after orchiopexy (and sham-operated controls)",
    "sample_size": 32,
    "outcomes": [
        "Leydig cell proliferation",
        "Testosterone level",
        "Testis weight",
        "Germ cell population",
        "Histopathology (Johnsen criteria)",
        "Seminiferous tubule diameter",
        "Fertility (number of fetuses)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In this rat model, EMF stimulation after orchiopexy was concluded to result in Leydig cell proliferation and increases in testosterone level and testis weight, but a decrease in germ cell population.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, intensity, SAR) not reported in the abstract",
        "Animal study; generalizability to humans is unclear",
        "Small group sizes (8 rats per subgroup)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic field",
        "EMF stimulation",
        "undescended testis",
        "orchiopexy",
        "prepubertal rats",
        "Leydig cells",
        "testosterone",
        "testis weight",
        "germ cells",
        "Johnsen criteria",
        "fertility"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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