Protective effect of paricalcitol in rat testicular damage induced by subchronic 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation

Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2023 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 374

Study snapshot

PublicationBiochemical and biophysical research communications · 2023

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Protective effect of paricalcitol in rat testicular damage induced by subchronic 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation Demirbağ B, Aktaş S, Çömelekoğlu Ü, Kara İ, Yildirim M, Yildirim DD. Protective effect of paricalcitol in rat testicular damage induced by subchronic 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2023 Sep 12;680:42-50. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.09.024. Highlights • RFR can damage testicular tissue. • RFR-induced testis damage may be associated with subfertility and/or infertility. • Paricalcitol decreased lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant enzyme levels in tissue with RFR exposure. • Paricalcitol has a protective role in testicular tissue against the damaging effect of RFR. Abstract In the present study, the possible protective effects of paricalcitol (P) were investigated in testicular damage because of 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure. Male Sprague Dawley rats 8-10 weeks old (n = 28) were randomly divided into four groups as control (C) (n = 7), RFR (n = 7, 1800 MHz RFR 1 h/day for 30 days), P (n = 7, 0.2 μg/kg paricalcitol, 3 times a week for 30 days), and RFR + P (n = 7, 1800 MHz RFR 1 h/day for 30 days +0.2 μg/kg paricalcitol, 3 times a week for 30 days). Testicular tissue was evaluated with histological and biochemical methods. No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups in seminiferous tubule diameters and germinal epithelial thicknesses. While ultrastructural changes were observed in the seminiferous tubule and Leydig cells in the RFR group, these changes were decreased in the RFR + P group. It was found that the Johnsen Score, Ki67, and p63 immunoreactivity scores (IRS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities in the RFR + P group were statistically increased as compared to the RFR group and the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were decreased statistically and significantly. These results show that paricalcitol administration may have an ameliorative effect on testicular damage occurring because of 1800 MHz RFR exposure. 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 directionmixed

PopulationMale Sprague Dawley rats (8–10 weeks old)

Sample size28

ExposureRF · 1800 MHz · 1 h/day for 30 days (subchronic)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

No statistically significant differences were detected between groups in seminiferous tubule diameters or germinal epithelial thicknesses. Ultrastructural changes were observed in the RFR group and were decreased in the RFR+paricalcitol group. Compared with the RFR group, the RFR+paricalcitol group had statistically increased Johnsen score, Ki67 and p63 IRS, SOD and CAT activities, and decreased MDA levels.

Outcomes measured

Testicular histology (seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelial thickness)
Ultrastructural changes in seminiferous tubule and Leydig cells
Johnsen score
Ki67 immunoreactivity score (IRS)
p63 immunoreactivity score (IRS)
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity
Catalase (CAT) activity
Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (lipid peroxidation)

Limitations

No SAR or dosimetry details reported in the abstract
Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in the abstract
Exposure source/setup not specified in the abstract
Some histological endpoints showed no significant differences despite reported ultrastructural/biochemical changes

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 1800,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 h/day for 30 days (subchronic)"
  },
  "population": "Male Sprague Dawley rats (8–10 weeks old)",
  "sample_size": 28,
  "outcomes": [
    "Testicular histology (seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelial thickness)",
    "Ultrastructural changes in seminiferous tubule and Leydig cells",
    "Johnsen score",
    "Ki67 immunoreactivity score (IRS)",
    "p63 immunoreactivity score (IRS)",
    "Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity",
    "Catalase (CAT) activity",
    "Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (lipid peroxidation)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "No statistically significant differences were detected between groups in seminiferous tubule diameters or germinal epithelial thicknesses. Ultrastructural changes were observed in the RFR group and were decreased in the RFR+paricalcitol group. Compared with the RFR group, the RFR+paricalcitol group had statistically increased Johnsen score, Ki67 and p63 IRS, SOD and CAT activities, and decreased MDA levels.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "No SAR or dosimetry details reported in the abstract",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in the abstract",
    "Exposure source/setup not specified in the abstract",
    "Some histological endpoints showed no significant differences despite reported ultrastructural/biochemical changes"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency radiation",
    "1800 MHz",
    "testis",
    "testicular damage",
    "paricalcitol",
    "oxidative stress",
    "malondialdehyde",
    "superoxide dismutase",
    "catalase",
    "Johnsen score",
    "Ki67",
    "p63",
    "Sprague Dawley rat"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-fertility",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Rat study assessing testicular damage and fertility-related histological/biochemical markers after 1800 MHz RF 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: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.09.024
PubMed: 37717340

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