Acute, whole-body microwave exposure and testicular function of rats.

PAPER pubmed Bioelectromagnetics 1987 Animal study Effect: no_effect Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1002/bem.2250080106 PMID: 3579998 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed for 8 h to continuous-wave microwave radiation (MWR, 1.3 Ghz) at a mean specific absorbed dose rate of 9 mW/g. MWR exposure and sham-irradiation took place in unidirectionally energized cylindrical waveguide sections, within which the animals were essentially unrestrained. The MWR treatment in this setting was determined to yield an elevation of deep rectal temperature to 4.5 degrees C. The animals were taken for analysis at 6.5, 13, 26, and 52 days following treatment, which corresponded to .5, 1, 2, and 4 cycles of the seminiferous epithelium. Net mass of testes, epididymides, and seminal vesicles; daily sperm production (DSP) per testis and per gram of testis; and the number of epididymal sperm were determined. The levels of circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and leutinizing hormone (LH) were derived via radioimmunoassay of plasma samples taken at the time of sacrifice. Despite the evident acute thermogenesis of the MWR at 9 mW/g, no substantial decrement in testicular function was found. We conclude that, in the unrestrained rat, whole body irradiation at 9 mW/g, while sufficient to induce evident hyperthermia, is not a sufficient condition for disruption of any of these key measures of testicular function.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

no_effect

Population

Male Sprague-Dawley rats

Sample size

—

Exposure

microwave whole-body microwave radiation exposure in waveguide · 1300 MHz · 9 W/kg · 8 h

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed for 8 h to continuous-wave 1.3 GHz microwave radiation at a mean specific absorbed dose rate of 9 mW/g showed an elevation of deep rectal temperature of 4.5°C. Despite this acute thermogenesis, the authors report no substantial decrement in measured testicular function outcomes (organ masses, sperm production/counts, FSH, LH) at 6.5, 13, 26, or 52 days post-exposure.

Outcomes measured

Deep rectal temperature
Net mass of testes
Net mass of epididymides
Net mass of seminal vesicles
Daily sperm production (per testis and per gram of testis)
Number of epididymal sperm
Circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Circulating luteinizing hormone (LH)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Only acute (single 8 h) exposure assessed
Exposure produced marked hyperthermia, which may limit generalizability to non-thermal exposure conditions
Details of randomization/blinding not stated in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": "whole-body microwave radiation exposure in waveguide",
        "frequency_mhz": 1300,
        "sar_wkg": 9,
        "duration": "8 h"
    },
    "population": "Male Sprague-Dawley rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Deep rectal temperature",
        "Net mass of testes",
        "Net mass of epididymides",
        "Net mass of seminal vesicles",
        "Daily sperm production (per testis and per gram of testis)",
        "Number of epididymal sperm",
        "Circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)",
        "Circulating luteinizing hormone (LH)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats exposed for 8 h to continuous-wave 1.3 GHz microwave radiation at a mean specific absorbed dose rate of 9 mW/g showed an elevation of deep rectal temperature of 4.5°C. Despite this acute thermogenesis, the authors report no substantial decrement in measured testicular function outcomes (organ masses, sperm production/counts, FSH, LH) at 6.5, 13, 26, or 52 days post-exposure.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Only acute (single 8 h) exposure assessed",
        "Exposure produced marked hyperthermia, which may limit generalizability to non-thermal exposure conditions",
        "Details of randomization/blinding not stated in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave radiation",
        "1.3 GHz",
        "whole-body exposure",
        "specific absorbed dose rate",
        "hyperthermia",
        "rectal temperature",
        "testicular function",
        "spermatogenesis",
        "daily sperm production",
        "epididymal sperm",
        "FSH",
        "LH",
        "Sprague-Dawley rat"
    ],
    "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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