Oxidative stress and energy metabolism in male reproductive damage from single and combined high-

Abstract

Oxidative stress and energy metabolism in male reproductive damage from single and combined high- power microwave exposure at 1.5 and 4.3GHz Li Y, Yao B, Men J, Pang Y, Gao J, Bai Y, Wang H, Zhang J, Zhao L, Xu X, Dong J, Li C, Peng R. Oxidative stress and energy metabolism in male reproductive damage from single and combined high-power microwave exposure at 1.5 and 4.3GHz. Reprod Toxicol. 2024 Nov 29;132:108759. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108759. Abstract The effect of multi-frequency electromagnetic environments on male reproduction has attracted the medical community's interest. Studies have investigated the effects and mechanisms of single-frequency microwave exposure on male reproduction, but comparative research on high-power microwave (HPM) composite and single exposure remains scarce. This study aimed to examine the effects and mechanisms of combined 1.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz microwave exposure on male reproduction. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 1.5 GHz (L-band) and 4.3 GHz (C-band) electromagnetic radiation for 15 minutes. The four groups were: sham, 10 mW/cm2 L-band, 10 mW/cm2 C-band, and 5 mW/cm2 L-band and 5 mW/cm2 C- band compound. Assessments were made on the pathological structures of testes, sperm viability, serum sex hormones, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism levels after radiation. Exposure to 1.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz microwaves individually resulted in testicular tissue damage and reduced sperm quality. There was little difference between the damage caused by HPM composite and single exposure. The exposed groups showed histological and ultrastructural changes, with reduced spermatozoa viability, motility parameters, and serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and serum inhibin-B on days 1 and 7 after exposure. These tended to recover partially by day 14. Adenosine triphosphate content and lactate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase activities in the exposed testicular tissue decreased, corresponding to decreased superoxide dismutase activity and increased malondialdehyde content. Both single and combined exposure to L- and C-band HPM affect the male reproductive system. Exposure to single and compound HPM shows no significant difference in risks, with oxidative stress and energy metabolism disturbances playing key roles. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Male Wistar rats exposed for 15 minutes to 1.5 GHz or 4.3 GHz microwaves showed testicular tissue damage and reduced sperm quality, with decreased sperm viability/motility and reduced serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and inhibin-B on days 1 and 7 post-exposure, with partial recovery by day 14. Testicular ATP content and LDH/SDH activities decreased alongside decreased SOD activity and increased MDA content. The abstract reports little difference in damage between single-frequency and combined (compound) exposure groups.

Outcomes measured

• Testicular pathological structure (histology/ultrastructure)
• Sperm viability
• Sperm motility parameters
• Serum sex hormones (testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, inhibin-B)
• Oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde content)
• Energy metabolism markers (ATP content, lactate dehydrogenase activity, succinate dehydrogenase activity)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
• SAR not reported; exposure described in power density (mW/cm2) only
• Short exposure duration (15 minutes) with limited follow-up timepoints (days 1, 7, 14)
• Details of randomization/blinding and exposure setup not provided in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• animal-studies (0.9)
  Experimental exposure study in male Wistar rats assessing reproductive outcomes.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": "high-power microwave exposure (electromagnetic radiation)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "15 minutes"
    },
    "population": "Male Wistar rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Testicular pathological structure (histology/ultrastructure)",
        "Sperm viability",
        "Sperm motility parameters",
        "Serum sex hormones (testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, inhibin-B)",
        "Oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde content)",
        "Energy metabolism markers (ATP content, lactate dehydrogenase activity, succinate dehydrogenase activity)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Male Wistar rats exposed for 15 minutes to 1.5 GHz or 4.3 GHz microwaves showed testicular tissue damage and reduced sperm quality, with decreased sperm viability/motility and reduced serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and inhibin-B on days 1 and 7 post-exposure, with partial recovery by day 14. Testicular ATP content and LDH/SDH activities decreased alongside decreased SOD activity and increased MDA content. The abstract reports little difference in damage between single-frequency and combined (compound) exposure groups.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
        "SAR not reported; exposure described in power density (mW/cm2) only",
        "Short exposure duration (15 minutes) with limited follow-up timepoints (days 1, 7, 14)",
        "Details of randomization/blinding and exposure setup not provided in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "high-power microwave",
        "microwave exposure",
        "1.5 GHz",
        "4.3 GHz",
        "L-band",
        "C-band",
        "male reproduction",
        "testis",
        "sperm quality",
        "testosterone",
        "oxidative stress",
        "energy metabolism",
        "ATP",
        "SOD",
        "MDA"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "animal-studies",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Experimental exposure study in male Wistar rats assessing reproductive outcomes."
        }
    ]
}

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