Extremely Low Frequency-Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) Can Decrease Spermatocyte Count and Motility and Change Testicular Tissue

2023 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 507

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2023

Study typecase_control

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Extremely Low Frequency-Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) Can Decrease Spermatocyte Count and Motility and Change Testicular Tissue Karbalay-Doust S, Darabyan M, Sisakht M, Haddadi G, Sotoudeh N, Haghani M, Mortazavi SMJ. Extremely Low Frequency-Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) Can Decrease Spermatocyte Count and Motility and Change Testicular Tissue. J Biomed Phys Eng. 2023 Apr 1;13(2):135-146. doi: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2011-1234. Abstract Background: Substantial evidence indicates that exposure to extremely low frequency-electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) affects male reproductive system. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term irradiation with ELF-EMF on sperm quality and quantity and testicular structure. Material and methods: In this case-control study, sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups. Experimental groups were exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz EMF, 100 µT) for either 1 h/day for 52 days (Group 1), 4 h/day for 52 days (Group 3), 1 h/day for 5 days (Group 5), 4 h/day for 52 days (Group 7). Groups 2, 4, 6 and 8 were only sham exposed at durations equal to Groups 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively. Results: Both count and motility of sperms were significantly decreased in animals exposed to ELF-EMF (1 h/day for 52 days, 4 h/day for 52 day, and 4 h/day for 5 days) compared to the sham-exposed groups (P<0.05). Serum testosterone levels showed a significant decrease in the animals exposed to ELF-EMF (4 h/day for 5 days) compared to the control groups (P<0.05). A significant decrease was observed in the volume of the seminiferous tubules, seminiferous tubules epithelium and interstitial tissue in the animals exposed to ELF-EMF for 4 h/day for 5 days. Tubules length was also reduced by 18% in animals exposed to ELF-EMF (4 h/day for 5 days). Conclusion: Our results show that ELF-EMF can reduce spermatocyte count and motility and is able to induce structural changes in testicular tissue. Open access paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typecase_control

Effect directionharm

PopulationMale Sprague-Dawley rats

Sample size60

ExposureELF · 1 h/day for 52 days; 4 h/day for 52 days; 1 h/day for 5 days; 4 h/day for 5 days (sham groups matched)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Sperm count and motility were significantly decreased in ELF-EMF exposed rats (1 h/day for 52 days, 4 h/day for 52 days, and 4 h/day for 5 days) versus sham (P<0.05). Serum testosterone significantly decreased in the 4 h/day for 5 days exposure group (P<0.05). Structural measures of testicular tissue (including seminiferous tubules, epithelium, interstitial tissue volume, and tubule length) were reduced in the 4 h/day for 5 days exposure group.

Outcomes measured

Sperm count
Sperm motility
Serum testosterone
Testicular structure (seminiferous tubules volume/epithelium/interstitial tissue)
Seminiferous tubules length

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 h/day for 52 days; 4 h/day for 52 days; 1 h/day for 5 days; 4 h/day for 5 days (sham groups matched)"
  },
  "population": "Male Sprague-Dawley rats",
  "sample_size": 60,
  "outcomes": [
    "Sperm count",
    "Sperm motility",
    "Serum testosterone",
    "Testicular structure (seminiferous tubules volume/epithelium/interstitial tissue)",
    "Seminiferous tubules length"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Sperm count and motility were significantly decreased in ELF-EMF exposed rats (1 h/day for 52 days, 4 h/day for 52 days, and 4 h/day for 5 days) versus sham (P<0.05). Serum testosterone significantly decreased in the 4 h/day for 5 days exposure group (P<0.05). Structural measures of testicular tissue (including seminiferous tubules, epithelium, interstitial tissue volume, and tubule length) were reduced in the 4 h/day for 5 days exposure group.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "100 µT",
    "male reproductive system",
    "sperm count",
    "sperm motility",
    "testosterone",
    "testicular tissue",
    "Sprague-Dawley rats"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Study involves ELF (50 Hz) magnetic field exposure, relevant to common occupational ELF sources, though no workplace setting is specified."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2011-1234
PubMed: Not supplied

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