Extremely Low Frequency-Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) Can Decrease Spermatocyte Count and Motility and Change Testicular Tissue

PAPER manual 2023 Case-control study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2011-1234 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Extremely Low Frequency-Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) Can Decrease Spermatocyte Count and Motility and Change Testicular Tissue Karbalay-Doust S, Darabyan M, Sisakht M, Haddadi G, Sotoudeh N, Haghani M, Mortazavi SMJ. Extremely Low Frequency-Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) Can Decrease Spermatocyte Count and Motility and Change Testicular Tissue. J Biomed Phys Eng. 2023 Apr 1;13(2):135-146. doi: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2011-1234. Abstract Background: Substantial evidence indicates that exposure to extremely low frequency-electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) affects male reproductive system. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term irradiation with ELF-EMF on sperm quality and quantity and testicular structure. Material and methods: In this case-control study, sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups. Experimental groups were exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz EMF, 100 µT) for either 1 h/day for 52 days (Group 1), 4 h/day for 52 days (Group 3), 1 h/day for 5 days (Group 5), 4 h/day for 52 days (Group 7). Groups 2, 4, 6 and 8 were only sham exposed at durations equal to Groups 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively. Results: Both count and motility of sperms were significantly decreased in animals exposed to ELF-EMF (1 h/day for 52 days, 4 h/day for 52 day, and 4 h/day for 5 days) compared to the sham-exposed groups (P<0.05). Serum testosterone levels showed a significant decrease in the animals exposed to ELF-EMF (4 h/day for 5 days) compared to the control groups (P<0.05). A significant decrease was observed in the volume of the seminiferous tubules, seminiferous tubules epithelium and interstitial tissue in the animals exposed to ELF-EMF for 4 h/day for 5 days. Tubules length was also reduced by 18% in animals exposed to ELF-EMF (4 h/day for 5 days). Conclusion: Our results show that ELF-EMF can reduce spermatocyte count and motility and is able to induce structural changes in testicular tissue. Open access paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Case-control study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Male Sprague-Dawley rats

Sample size

Exposure

ELF · 1 h/day for 52 days; 4 h/day for 52 days; 1 h/day for 5 days; 4 h/day for 5 days (sham groups matched)

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Sperm count and motility were significantly decreased in ELF-EMF exposed rats (1 h/day for 52 days, 4 h/day for 52 days, and 4 h/day for 5 days) versus sham (P<0.05). Serum testosterone significantly decreased in the 4 h/day for 5 days exposure group (P<0.05). Structural measures of testicular tissue (including seminiferous tubules, epithelium, interstitial tissue volume, and tubule length) were reduced in the 4 h/day for 5 days exposure group.

Outcomes measured

Sperm count
Sperm motility
Serum testosterone
Testicular structure (seminiferous tubules volume/epithelium/interstitial tissue)
Seminiferous tubules length

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.25)
Study involves ELF (50 Hz) magnetic field exposure, relevant to common occupational ELF sources, though no workplace setting is specified.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "case_control",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "1 h/day for 52 days; 4 h/day for 52 days; 1 h/day for 5 days; 4 h/day for 5 days (sham groups matched)"
    },
    "population": "Male Sprague-Dawley rats",
    "sample_size": 60,
    "outcomes": [
        "Sperm count",
        "Sperm motility",
        "Serum testosterone",
        "Testicular structure (seminiferous tubules volume/epithelium/interstitial tissue)",
        "Seminiferous tubules length"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Sperm count and motility were significantly decreased in ELF-EMF exposed rats (1 h/day for 52 days, 4 h/day for 52 days, and 4 h/day for 5 days) versus sham (P<0.05). Serum testosterone significantly decreased in the 4 h/day for 5 days exposure group (P<0.05). Structural measures of testicular tissue (including seminiferous tubules, epithelium, interstitial tissue volume, and tubule length) were reduced in the 4 h/day for 5 days exposure group.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low frequency",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "100 µT",
        "male reproductive system",
        "sperm count",
        "sperm motility",
        "testosterone",
        "testicular tissue",
        "Sprague-Dawley rats"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.25,
            "reason": "Study involves ELF (50 Hz) magnetic field exposure, relevant to common occupational ELF sources, though no workplace setting is specified."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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