Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of exposure to 50 Hz, 1 Gauss magnetic field on reproductive traits in male albino rats med./bio.

By: Saadeldin IM, Fadel AM, Hamada MMZ, El-Badry AA

Published in: Acta Vet Brno 2011; 80 (1): 107-111

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of male rats to a 50 Hz magnetic field on fertility should be investigated.

Background/further details

Male rats were divided into 4 groups (n=7 each): Rats were either killed immediately and examined after exposure to investigate acute effects (group 1) or 48 days after exposure to detect delayed effects (group 2). Each exposure group had its own sham exposure group (groups 3 and 4).

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: parameters of male fertility

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 21 days	magnetic flux density: 100 µT (± 10 µT)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	continuous for 21 days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	solenoid
Chamber	plastic cages with food and water containers
Setup	a homogenous magnetic field was generated by 4 solenoids of 270 turns of electrically insulated 2.2 mm copper wire, respectively, wound around a copper cylindrical chamber of 55 cm external diameter; rats were placed at the center of the solenoids in their cages; animals were kept in a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle, at constant temperature of 25 °C
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	100 µT	-	measured	-	± 10 µT

Reference articles

Ali FM et al. (2003): Effect of 50 Hz, 0.2 mT magnetic fields on RBC properties and heart functions of albino rats

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar albino
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the reproductive system: antioxidants in epididymis: enzyme activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (methods not described), levels of L-ascorbic acid (colorimetry) and alpha-tocopherol (HPLC); sperm quality: percentage of motile spermatozoa (light microscopy), sperm concentration (Neubauer haemocytometer, microscopy), malformations and percentages of living/dead sperm (eosin-nigrosine stain, microscopy); testes weight
endocrine changes: serum testosterone level (electro-chemiluminescence-immuno-assay (ECLIA))
morphol./histopathol. changes: histopathology of testes (hematoxylin-eosin stain and PAS stain, microscopy)
body weight

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
isolated organ
tissue slices
intact cell/cell culture
blood, testes, epididymis (homogenate), sperms

Investigated organ system:

reproductive system

Time of investigation:

before exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There was a significant decrease in testes weights, sperm motility, sperm count, percentages of normal sperms and live sperms as well as in the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the exposure groups (groups 1 and 2) compared to the respective sham exposure groups (groups 3 and 4). The alpha-tocopherol level was significantly decreased and serum testosterone and L-ascorbate levels were significantly increased directly after exposure (group 1) compared to the sham exposure group, but not after further 48 days (group 2).
Histopathological examination of the testes showed a disruption in its architecture with an increase in Leydig cell number and activity in group 1 compared to the sham exposure, whereas in group 2, there were high rates of apoptosis in the germ cell layers compared to the sham exposure.
The authors conclude that exposure of male rats to a 50 Hz magnetic field might impair fertility related parameters via oxidative stress.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Koziorowska A et al. (2020): In vitro study of effects of ELF-EMF on testicular tissues of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) - FTIR and FT-Raman spectroscopic investigation
Ruan G et al. (2019): Power-frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz do not affect fertility and development in rats and mice
Park S et al. (2018): The effect of 20-week continuous 60 Hz magnetic field exposure on testicular function in sprague-dawley rats
Park S et al. (2015): Endonuclease G is Upregulated and Required in Testicular Germ Cell Apoptosis after Exposure to 60 Hz at 200 µT
Bahaodini A et al. (2015): Low frequency electromagnetic fields long-term exposure effects on testicular histology, sperm quality and testosterone levels of male rats
Duan W et al. (2014): Effects of exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields on spermatogenesis in adult rats
Kim HS et al. (2014): Continuous exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields induces duration- and dose-dependent apoptosis of testicular germ cells
Akdag MZ et al. (2013): Can safe and long-term exposure to extremely low frequency (50 Hz) magnetic fields affect apoptosis, reproduction, and oxidative stress?
Tenorio BM et al. (2012): Evaluation of testicular degeneration induced by low-frequency electromagnetic fields
de Bruyn L et al. (2010): Effect of long-term exposure to a randomly varied 50 Hz power frequency magnetic field on the fertility of the mouse
Kim YW et al. (2009): Effects of 60 Hz 14 microT magnetic field on the apoptosis of testicular germ cell in mice
Rajaei F et al. (2009): Effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic field on mouse epididymis and deferens ducts
Aydin M et al. (2007): Effect of electromagnetic field on the sperm characteristics and histopathological status of testis in rats
Al-Akhras MA et al. (2006): Influence of 50 Hz magnetic field on sex hormones and other fertility parameters of adult male rats
Lee JS et al. (2004): Effects of 60 Hz electromagnetic field exposure on testicular germ cell apoptosis in mice