Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Therapeutic approaches of melatonin in microwave radiations-induced oxidative stress-mediated toxicity on male fertility pattern of Wistar rats. med./bio.

By: Meena R, Kumari K, Kumar J, Rajamani P, Verma HN, Kesari KK

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2014; 33 (2): 81-91

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of rats to a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field on oxidative stress and damage in the testes and the protective effect of melatonin should be investigated.

Background/further details

Rats were divided into 4 groups (n=6 each): 1) exposure to the electromagnetic field, 2) treatment with melatonin (daily intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg body weight), 3) exposure to the electromagnetic field and treatment with melatonin, 4) sham exposure (with daily sham injection).

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: oxidative stress and damage in the testes

Exposure

- 2.45 GHz
- 2.45 GHz
- microwaves
- mobile communications
- co-exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz Modulation type: FM Exposure duration: continuous for 2 h/day for 45 days	SAR: 0.14 W/kg power density: 0.21 mW/cm² power: 1,080 W (input power) power: 700 W (output power)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	2.45 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Charakteristic	far field
Exposure duration	continuous for 2 h/day for 45 days

Modulation

Modulation type	FM
Modulation frequency	50 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	anechoic chamber horn antenna
Chamber	plexiglas cage ventilated with holes of 1 cm diameter
Setup	a cage with six animals was kept in an anechoic chamber lined with radar absorbing material (attenuation 40 db); all six animals were facing the horn antenna
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	0.14 W/kg	-	estimated	whole body	-
power density	0.21 mW/cm²	-	measured	-	-
power	1,080 W	-	-	-	input power
power	700 W	-	-	-	output power

Reference articles

Kumar S et al. (2011): Influence of microwave exposure on fertility of male rats.
Kesari KK et al. (2010): Effects of microwave at 2.45 GHz radiations on reproductive system of male rats.
Kesari KK et al. (2010): Mobile phone usage and male infertility in Wistar rats.
Paulraj R et al. (2006): Single strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells exposed to microwave radiation.
Durney CH et al. (1979): An empirical formula for broad band SAR calculations of prolate spheriodal models of humans and animals.

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage in sperms (single-strand breaks, ethidium bromide stain, fluorescence microscopy)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: total count of sperms and apoptotic sperms (propidium iodide stain, flow cytometry)
effects on the reproductive system: sperm maturation (lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activity, spectrophotometry), testicular histology (hematoxylin-eosin stain, microscopy), testosterone level in serum (ELISA), oxidative stress in the testes: amounts of reactive oxygen species (dimethyl-4-phenylenediamine stain), carbonyl proteins (2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine stain), malondialdehyde (reaction with thiobarbituric acid) and xanthine oxidase enzyme activity (spectrophotometry)
ratio weight of testes/body weight, food and water intake

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
DNA/RNA
intact cell/cell culture
isolated organ
testes, tissue homogenates, sperms, serum
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

reproductive system

Time of investigation:

during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The relative testis weight, testosterone level, the enzyme activity of lactate dehydrogenase and the sperm count were significantly decreased in EMF-exposed rats (group 1) compared to the sham exposure group and histopathological damage was found as well. A simultaneous administration of melatonin (Group 3) negated these exposure-induced effects.
All parameters of oxidative stress (levels of reactive oxygen species, carbonyl proteins, malondialdehyde and enzyme activity of xanthine oxidase) as well as the DNA damage and apoptosis were significantly increased in EMF-exposed animals (Group 1) compared to the sham exposure group. Again, simultaneous administration of melatonin (group 3) significantly reduced these parameters in comparison to group 1.
Food and water intake did not shown any differences between the groups.
The authors conclude that exposure of rats to a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field might damage the testes via oxidative stress and that melatonin could prevent these effects.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India

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