Acute and Chronic Exposure to 900 MHz Radio Frequency Radiation Activates p38/JNK-mediated MAPK Pathway in Rat Testis

Abstract

Acute and Chronic Exposure to 900 MHz Radio Frequency Radiation Activates p38/JNK-mediated MAPK Pathway in Rat Testis Hakan Er, Gizem Gamze Tas, Bikem Soygur, Sukru Ozen, Leyla Sati. Acute and Chronic Exposure to 900 MHz Radio Frequency Radiation Activates p38/JNK-mediated MAPK Pathway in Rat Testis. Reprod Sci. 2022 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s43032-022-00844-y. Abstract The use of electronic devices such as mobile phones has had a long stretch of rapid growth all over the world. Therefore, exposure to radio frequency radiation (RFR) has increased enormously. Here, we aimed to assess the balance between cell death and proliferation and also investigate the involvement of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in the testis of rats exposed to 900 MHz RFR in acute and chronic periods (2 h/day, 5 days/week) for 1 or 10 weeks, respectively. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-xL, cleaved caspase-3, phosphorylated-JNK (p-JNK), and phosphorylated-p38 (p-p38) was analyzed in line with histopathology and TUNEL analysis in rat testis. There were no histopathological differences between sham and RFR groups in the acute and chronic groups. PCNA expression was not altered between groups in both periods. However, alterations for cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-xL were observed depending on the exposure period. TUNEL analysis showed a significant increase in the RFR group in the acute period, whereas no difference in the chronic groups for the apoptotic index was reported. In addition, both p-p38 and p-JNK protein expressions increased significantly in RFR groups in both periods. Our study indicated that 900 MHz RFR might result in alterations during acute period exposure for several parameters, but this can be ameliorated in the chronic period in rat testis. Here, we also report the involvement of the p38/JNK-mediated MAPK pathway after exposure to 900 MHz RFR. Hence, this information might shed light in future studies toward detailed molecular mechanisms in male reproduction and infertility. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpts The carrier frequency was 900 MHz, the modulation frequency was 217 Hz, the pulse width was 0.577 ms, and the power range of the generator was 0–10 W.... During the experiment in the “signal on” situation, the measured electric field strengths over the rats’ heads positioned 3.5 cm away from the antenna were 35.5 V/m for 900 MHz The electric field background level was between 0.02 and 0.2 V/m in the shielded room. Also, the background magnetic field was measured between 0.01 and 0.03 μT... The average whole-body SAR value at 900 MHz was 1.159 W/kg. The SAR value for the testes was on the average of 0.107 W/kg. Prior to and after all experimental sessions, the body temperatures of rats were monitored by rectal measurements. The RFR exposure did not lead to any rectal temperature raise....

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In rat testis, 900 MHz RFR exposure (2 h/day, 5 days/week) produced no histopathological differences versus sham in either acute (1 week) or chronic (10 weeks) exposure. TUNEL apoptotic index increased significantly in the acute exposure group but not in the chronic group; p-p38 and p-JNK protein expressions increased significantly in RFR groups in both periods, while PCNA was not altered.

Outcomes measured

• Testis histopathology
• TUNEL apoptotic index
• PCNA expression
• Bcl-xL expression
• Cleaved caspase-3 expression
• Phosphorylated-JNK (p-JNK) expression
• Phosphorylated-p38 (p-p38) expression
• Rectal temperature

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in provided text
• Findings are from an animal model (rat testis), limiting direct generalization to humans
• Some endpoints differed by exposure period (acute vs chronic), complicating interpretation

Suggested hubs

• mobile-phones (0.8)
  Exposure described as 900 MHz RFR from electronic devices such as mobile phones.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": 1.1590000000000000301980662698042578995227813720703125,
        "duration": "2 h/day, 5 days/week for 1 week (acute) or 10 weeks (chronic)"
    },
    "population": "Rats (testis)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Testis histopathology",
        "TUNEL apoptotic index",
        "PCNA expression",
        "Bcl-xL expression",
        "Cleaved caspase-3 expression",
        "Phosphorylated-JNK (p-JNK) expression",
        "Phosphorylated-p38 (p-p38) expression",
        "Rectal temperature"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In rat testis, 900 MHz RFR exposure (2 h/day, 5 days/week) produced no histopathological differences versus sham in either acute (1 week) or chronic (10 weeks) exposure. TUNEL apoptotic index increased significantly in the acute exposure group but not in the chronic group; p-p38 and p-JNK protein expressions increased significantly in RFR groups in both periods, while PCNA was not altered.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in provided text",
        "Findings are from an animal model (rat testis), limiting direct generalization to humans",
        "Some endpoints differed by exposure period (acute vs chronic), complicating interpretation"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "900 MHz",
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "RFR",
        "rat testis",
        "apoptosis",
        "TUNEL",
        "PCNA",
        "Bcl-xL",
        "cleaved caspase-3",
        "p38",
        "JNK",
        "MAPK",
        "SAR"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.8000000000000000444089209850062616169452667236328125,
            "reason": "Exposure described as 900 MHz RFR from electronic devices such as mobile phones."
        }
    ]
}

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