Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Impact of L-carnitine and Selenium Treatment on Testicular Apoptosis in Rats Exposed to 2.45 GHz Microwave Energy med./bio.

By: Saygin M, Caliskan S, Ozguner MF, Gumral N, Comlekci S, Karahan N

Published in: West Indian Med J 2015; 64 (2): 55-61

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of rats to a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field on testicular apoptosis and the protective effects of selenium and L-carnitine should be investigated.

Background/further details

Male rats were divided into the following groups (n=6 each): 1) exposure to the electromagnetic field, 2) co-exposure to the electromagnetic field and L-carnitine (1.5 mg/kg body weight/day), 3) co-exposure to the electromagnetic field and selenium (1.5 mg/kg body weight every other day), 4) sham exposure.
The first doses of selenium and L-carnitine were given 24 hours prior to the first exposure to the electromagnetic field. Sham-exposed rats received intraperitoneal injections of isotonic saline solution.

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: apoptosis in rat testes

Exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: intermittent 1 hour/day for 28 days	SAR: 3.21 W/g

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	2.45 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	intermittent 1 hour/day for 28 days

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	monopole
Chamber	exposure system in faraday cage
Setup	all 6 rats of each group were restraint in PVC tubes (one per rat, length: 15 cm, diameter: 5 cm) and positioned circularly around the antenna; the noses were in close contact to the antenna and the PVC tubes were ventilated from the heads towards the tails
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	sham exposed rats were exposed to switched-off system

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	3.21 W/g	-	measured and calculated	whole body	-

Additional parameter details

shielding effectiveness of Faraday cage was 100 dB

Reference articles

Saygin M et al. (2011): Testicular apoptosis and histopathological changes induced by a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field
Naziroglu M et al. (2009): Modulator effects of L-carnitine and selenium on wireless devices (2.45 GHz)-induced oxidative stress and electroencephalography records in brain of rat
Faraone A et al. (2006): Radiofrequency dosimetry for the Ferris-wheel mouse exposure system

Exposed system:

animal
rat/ Wistar albino

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the reproductive system: histology of seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells (haematoxylin stain) and apoptosis in testes (protein expressions of caspase-3 and -8, Bcl-2, Bax, tumor necrosis factor-alpha; semiquantitative scoring, immunohistochemistry, light microscopy)

Investigated system:

tissue slices
testes

Investigated organ system:

reproductive system

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and -8 were significantly increased in the EMF exposure group compared to the sham exposure group. In the L-carnitine and selenium co-exposure groups, the protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, caspase-3 and -8 were significantly increased in comparison to the sham exposure group. The protein expression of caspase-8 was significantly decreased in the selenium co-exposure group compared to the EMF exposure only group.
The authors conclude that exposure of rats to a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field might induce testicular apoptosis and that selenium might reduce this effect.

Study character:

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

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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Lee HJ et al. (2012): The effects of simultaneous combined exposure to CDMA and WCDMA electromagnetic fields on rat testicular function
Imai N et al. (2011): Effects on rat testis of 1.95-GHz W-CDMA for IMT-2000 cellular phones
Saygin M et al. (2011): Testicular apoptosis and histopathological changes induced by a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field
Kumar S et al. (2011): The therapeutic effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field on the reproductive patterns of male Wistar rats exposed to a 2.45-GHz microwave field
Kesari KK et al. (2010): Mobile phone usage and male infertility in Wistar rats
Naziroglu M et al. (2009): Modulator effects of L-carnitine and selenium on wireless devices (2.45 GHz)-induced oxidative stress and electroencephalography records in brain of rat
Dasdag S et al. (2008): Mobile phone exposure does not induce apoptosis on spermatogenesis in rats
Ozguner M et al. (2005): Biological and morphological effects on the reproductive organ of rats after exposure to electromagnetic field