Testicular function of rats following exposure to microwave radiation.

PAPER pubmed Bioelectromagnetics 1983 Animal study Effect: no_effect Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1002/bem.2250040202 PMID: 6870965 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed for 6 h per day for nine days to pulse-modulated microwave radiation (1.3 GHz, at 1-microseconds pulse width, 600 pulses per second). Exposures were carried out in cylindrical waveguide sections at a mean dose rate of 6.3 mW/g; sham controls were treated similarly and received no irradiation. At time periods corresponding to 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 cycles of the seminiferous epithelium, groups of four sham-irradiated and four irradiated rats were killed and the testes removed for analysis. Net mass of the testes, epididymides, and seminal vesicles; daily sperm production (DSP) per testis and per gram of testis; sperm morphology; and the number of epididymal sperm were determined. There were no statistically significant differences between the sham-irradiated and irradiated groups with respect to any measured variable. In a group of seven surrogate animals of similar body mass, the dose rate of 6.3 mW/g caused a net change in body temperature (via rectal probe) of 1.5 degrees C.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

no_effect

Population

Male Sprague-Dawley rats

Sample size

—

Exposure

microwave · 1300 MHz · 6.3 W/kg · 6 h/day for 9 days

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to pulse-modulated 1.3 GHz microwave radiation (mean dose rate 6.3 mW/g) for 6 h/day for nine days showed no statistically significant differences versus sham controls in organ masses, daily sperm production, sperm morphology, or epididymal sperm counts. In surrogate animals, this dose rate was associated with a net body temperature increase of 1.5°C.

Outcomes measured

Net mass of testes
Net mass of epididymides
Net mass of seminal vesicles
Daily sperm production (per testis and per gram of testis)
Sperm morphology
Number of epididymal sperm
Body temperature change (rectal) in surrogate animals

Limitations

Total sample size for exposed vs sham groups not fully reported (only groups of four per time point are described).
Temperature change was measured in a separate surrogate group rather than the main experimental animals.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 1300,
        "sar_wkg": 6.29999999999999982236431605997495353221893310546875,
        "duration": "6 h/day for 9 days"
    },
    "population": "Male Sprague-Dawley rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Net mass of testes",
        "Net mass of epididymides",
        "Net mass of seminal vesicles",
        "Daily sperm production (per testis and per gram of testis)",
        "Sperm morphology",
        "Number of epididymal sperm",
        "Body temperature change (rectal) in surrogate animals"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats exposed to pulse-modulated 1.3 GHz microwave radiation (mean dose rate 6.3 mW/g) for 6 h/day for nine days showed no statistically significant differences versus sham controls in organ masses, daily sperm production, sperm morphology, or epididymal sperm counts. In surrogate animals, this dose rate was associated with a net body temperature increase of 1.5°C.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Total sample size for exposed vs sham groups not fully reported (only groups of four per time point are described).",
        "Temperature change was measured in a separate surrogate group rather than the main experimental animals."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "rats",
        "Sprague-Dawley",
        "microwave radiation",
        "pulse-modulated",
        "1.3 GHz",
        "testicular function",
        "spermatogenesis",
        "daily sperm production",
        "sperm morphology",
        "epididymal sperm",
        "body temperature"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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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