Shortwave radiation-induced reproductive organ damage in male rats by enhanced expression of

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2023 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 252

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2023

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Shortwave radiation-induced reproductive organ damage in male rats by enhanced expression of molecules associated with the calpain/Cdk5 pathway and oxidative stress Yao B, Men J, Liu S, Bai Y, Yu C, Gao Y, Xu X, Zhao L, Zhang J, Wang H, Li Y, Peng R. Shortwave radiation- induced reproductive organ damage in male rats by enhanced expression of molecules associated with the calpain/Cdk5 pathway and oxidative stress. Electromagn Biol Med. 2023 Oct 2;42(4):150-162. doi: 10.1080/15368378.2023.2296896. Abstract Shortwave radiation has been reported to have harmful effects on several organs in humans and animals. However, the biological effects of 27 MHz shortwave on the reproductive system are not clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of shortwave whole-body exposure at a frequency of 27 MHz on structural and functional changes in the testis. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 27 MHz continuous shortwaves at average power densities of 0, 5, 10, or 30 mW/cm2 for 6 min. The levels of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) and anti-sperm antibodies (AsAb) in the peripheral serum, sperm motility, sperm malformation rate, and testicular tissue structure of rats were analyzed. Furthermore, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, calpain, and Cdk5 expression were analyzed at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after exposure. We observed that the rats after radiation had decreased serum INSL3 levels (p < 0.01), increased AsAb levels (p < 0.05), decreased percentage of class A+B sperm (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), increased sperm malformation (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), injured testicular tissue structure, decreased SOD and CAT activities (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), increased MDA content (p < 0.01), and testicular tissue expressions of calpain1, calpain2, and Cdk5 were increased (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). In conclusion, Shortwave radiation caused functional and structural damage to the reproductive organs of male rats. Furthermore, oxidative stress and key molecules in the calpain/Cdk5 pathway are likely involved in this process. Plain language summary Shortwave radiation has been used in communications, medical and military applications, and its damaging effects on several organs of the human body have been reported in the literature. However, the biological effects of shortwave radiation on the male reproductive system are unknown. The present study, by constructing an animal model of short-wave radiation and analyzing the experimental results, revealed that shortwave radiation could cause functional and structural damage to the reproductive organs of male rats, and that oxidative stress and key molecules in the calpain/Cdk5 pathway might be involved in this process. It will provide organizational data for further studies on the mechanisms of male reproductive damage by shortwave radiation. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationMale Wistar rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 27 MHz · 6 min (continuous shortwaves); assessed at 1, 7, 14, 28 days post-exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with sham (0 mW/cm2), 27 MHz shortwave exposure (5, 10, 30 mW/cm2 for 6 min) was associated with decreased serum INSL3, increased AsAb, reduced percentage of class A+B sperm, increased sperm malformation, and injured testicular tissue structure. Oxidative stress markers changed (decreased SOD and CAT activities; increased MDA), and testicular calpain1, calpain2, and Cdk5 expression increased at post-exposure timepoints (1, 7, 14, 28 days).

Outcomes measured

Serum insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3)
Serum anti-sperm antibodies (AsAb)
Sperm motility (class A+B)
Sperm malformation rate
Testicular tissue structure (histology/structure)
Oxidative stress markers: SOD activity, CAT activity, MDA content
Testicular expression of calpain1, calpain2, and Cdk5

Limitations

Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
Specific dosimetry beyond average power density (e.g., SAR, temperature/thermal control) not reported in provided abstract/metadata
Exposure duration was short (6 min); generalizability to other exposure patterns not established in provided abstract/metadata

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "shortwave radiation (whole-body exposure)",
    "frequency_mhz": 27,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "6 min (continuous shortwaves); assessed at 1, 7, 14, 28 days post-exposure"
  },
  "population": "Male Wistar rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Serum insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3)",
    "Serum anti-sperm antibodies (AsAb)",
    "Sperm motility (class A+B)",
    "Sperm malformation rate",
    "Testicular tissue structure (histology/structure)",
    "Oxidative stress markers: SOD activity, CAT activity, MDA content",
    "Testicular expression of calpain1, calpain2, and Cdk5"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with sham (0 mW/cm2), 27 MHz shortwave exposure (5, 10, 30 mW/cm2 for 6 min) was associated with decreased serum INSL3, increased AsAb, reduced percentage of class A+B sperm, increased sperm malformation, and injured testicular tissue structure. Oxidative stress markers changed (decreased SOD and CAT activities; increased MDA), and testicular calpain1, calpain2, and Cdk5 expression increased at post-exposure timepoints (1, 7, 14, 28 days).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Specific dosimetry beyond average power density (e.g., SAR, temperature/thermal control) not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure duration was short (6 min); generalizability to other exposure patterns not established in provided abstract/metadata"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "shortwave radiation",
    "27 MHz",
    "male reproductive system",
    "testis",
    "sperm motility",
    "sperm malformation",
    "INSL3",
    "anti-sperm antibodies",
    "oxidative stress",
    "SOD",
    "CAT",
    "MDA",
    "calpain",
    "Cdk5",
    "rat"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Shortwave radiation noted as used in communications/medical/military applications; study examines biological effects of shortwave exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2023.2296896
PubMed: 38155529

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