Dominant lethal studies in male mice after exposure to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation.

Abstract

Adult male mice had the lower halves of their bodies exposed in a waveguide system to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation for 30 min. The half body dose-rate of 43 W kg-1 had been shown in a previous study [7] to deplete severely the heat-sensitive stages of sperm production. The males were mated at intervals to adult hybrid females over the following 8-10 weeks. There was no significant reduction in post-implantation survival, suggesting that the microwave exposure did not have a mutagenic effect on the male germ cells. However, pregnancy rate was significantly reduced in weeks 3, 4, 5 and 6; reaching a minimum of about 10% of the control value in weeks 4 and 5. The occurrence of low values in weeks 4 and 5 correlated well with the expected reductions in sperm count due to the pattern of depletion of the spermatogenic epithelium of the testes. Thus it was concluded that the reduced pregnancy rate resulted from reduced male fertility. Pre-implantation survival can also be affected by reduced sperm count [8] and was significantly reduced in this study but it correlated less well with the anticipated heat response. A further study is in progress looking at the contribution of sperm count and sperm abnormality to the results.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Exposure to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation at 43 W/kg for 30 minutes did not significantly reduce post-implantation survival, indicating no mutagenic effect on male germ cells. However, pregnancy rates were significantly reduced during weeks 3 to 6 post-exposure, correlating with reduced sperm count and male fertility. Pre-implantation survival was also significantly reduced but less clearly correlated with heat response.

Outcomes measured

• post-implantation survival
• pregnancy rate
• pre-implantation survival
• male fertility

Limitations

• sample size not reported
• only male mice studied
• mechanisms of reduced fertility not fully elucidated

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 2450,
        "sar_wkg": 43,
        "duration": "30 min"
    },
    "population": "adult male mice",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "post-implantation survival",
        "pregnancy rate",
        "pre-implantation survival",
        "male fertility"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation at 43 W/kg for 30 minutes did not significantly reduce post-implantation survival, indicating no mutagenic effect on male germ cells. However, pregnancy rates were significantly reduced during weeks 3 to 6 post-exposure, correlating with reduced sperm count and male fertility. Pre-implantation survival was also significantly reduced but less clearly correlated with heat response.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "sample size not reported",
        "only male mice studied",
        "mechanisms of reduced fertility not fully elucidated"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave radiation",
        "2.45 GHz",
        "male fertility",
        "dominant lethal",
        "sperm count",
        "mouse",
        "reproductive toxicity"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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