Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The Effects of Melatonin on Oxidative Stress Parameters and DNA Fragmentation in Testicular Tissue of Rats Exposed to Microwave Radiation med./bio.

By: Sokolovic D, Djordjevic B, Kocic G, Stoimenov TJ, Stanojkovic Z, Sokolovic DM, Veljkovic A, Ristic G, Despotovic M, Milisavljevic D, Jankovic R, Binic I

Published in: Adv Clin Exp Med 2015; 24 (3): 429-436

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) on oxidative stress in the testes should be investigated and if an administration of melatonin prevents these effects.

Background/further details

Rats were divided into the following groups (n=21 each): 1) GSM exposure, 2) melatonin group (intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg melatonin), 3) co-exposure (melatonin injection and GSM exposure), 4) control group (injection with saline).
After 20, 40 and 60 days, 7 rats from each group were sacrificed and analyzed, respectively.

Endpoint

oxidative stress in the testes

Exposure

- 900 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM
- co-exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: CW Exposure duration: continuous for 4 hours/day for 20, 40 or 60 days	electric field strength: 9.88 V/m minimum electric field strength: 18.36 V/m maximum magnetic flux density: 4.68 µT minimum magnetic flux density: 8.69 µT maximum SAR: 0.043 W/kg minimum (whole body) SAR: 0.135 W/kg maximum (whole body)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Charakteristic	near field
Exposure duration	continuous for 4 hours/day for 20, 40 or 60 days
Additional info	GSM signal

Modulation

Modulation type	CW

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone Nokia 3110
Chamber	plastic cage without any metallic fittings
Setup	8 rats per cage (remark EMF-Portal: but 7 rats per cage were housed and sacrificed) were able to move freely; test phone was connected to a computer with an appropriate software module by a communication test set PC development kit

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	9.88 V/m	minimum	measured	-	-
electric field strength	18.36 V/m	maximum	measured	-	-
magnetic flux density	4.68 µT	minimum	measured	-	-
magnetic flux density	8.69 µT	maximum	measured	-	-
SAR	0.043 W/kg	minimum	estimated	whole body	-
SAR	0.135 W/kg	maximum	estimated	whole body	-

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar albino
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: total protein concentration (Lowry's method)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: post-apoptotic DNA-fragmentation (alkaline DNAse (DNAse I) and acid DNAse (DNAse II) enzyme activities)
oxidative stress: lipid peroxidation (reaction of malondialdehyde with thiobarbituric acid), protein oxidation (reaction of carbonyl proteins with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine), enzyme activities of catalase and xanthine oxidase (spectrophotometry)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
testes homogenates

Investigated organ system:

reproductive system

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

After 20 days, only the lipid peroxidation and the enzyme activity of the alkaline DNase were significantly increased and the enzyme activity of the catalase was significantly reduced in the testes of GSM exposed mice (group 1) compared to the control group (group 4). After 40 and 60 days, the lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and enzyme activities of xanthine oxidase, alkaline and acid DNase were significantly increased and the enzyme activity of the catalase was significantly reduced in GSM exposed mice compared to the control group.
Co-exposure to the GSM field and melatonin (group 3) significantly reduced lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase and acid DNAse enzyme activities compared to the GSM exposure group.
Mice injected with melatonin only (group 2) showed a significantly reduced acid DNAse enzyme activity after 20-60 days compared to the control group.
The authors conclude that exposure of rats to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) could induce oxidative stress in the testes and that melatonin might attenuate the effect.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Ministry of Science and Technological Development, Serbia

Pandey N et al. (2017): Radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in testicular germ cells in swiss albino mice
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