Protective effects of selenium on electromagnetic field-induced apoptosis, aromatase P450 activity, and leptin receptor expression in rat testis

2021 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1152

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Protective effects of selenium on electromagnetic field-induced apoptosis, aromatase P450 activity, and leptin receptor expression in rat testis Sareh Khoshbakht, Fatemeh Motejaded, Sareh Karimi, Narjes Jalilvand, Alireza Ebrahimzadeh-Bideskan. Protective effects of selenium on electromagnetic field-induced apoptosis, aromatase P450 activity, and leptin receptor expression in rat testis. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2021 Mar;24(3):322-330. doi: 10.22038/ijbms.2021.45358.10554. Abstract Objectives: Electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by mobiles may affect the male reproductive system. Selenium, as an antioxidant, may protect against electromagnetic field-induced tissue damage. Theis study aimed to investigate the effects of selenium on rat testis exposed to electromagnetic fields. Materials and methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, namely EM group (2100 MHZ), EM/SE group (2100 MHZ + selenium (0.2 mg/kg), SE group (selenium 0.2 mg/kg), CONT (control group). Serum LH, FSH, testosterone, leptin and aromatase levels, testis weight and volume index, sperm parameters (count and abnormal percent), seminiferous tubule diam¬eters, germinal epithelia thickness, immunoreactivity of leptin receptor and caspase-3 (for apoptotic cells in germinal epithelium) were investigated. Results: Our results showed that serum LH, FSH, GnRH, testosterone level, sperm count, germinal epithelium thickness, and seminiferous tubule diameter were significantly declined in the EM group compared with the CONT group (P<0.05). However, in the EM group, the serum leptin level, sperm abnormality, aromatase enzyme level, apoptotic cells, and leptin receptor were increased compared with the CONT group (P<0.05). Furthermore, an increase in sperm count, germinal epithelium thickness, seminiferous diameters, serum LH, FSH, and GnRH, and testosterone levels, and a significant decrease in sperm abnormality, leptin receptor and apoptotic cells in the EM/SE group compared with the EM group were also observed (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that electromagnetic radiation may have detrimental impacts on the male reproductive system, which can be prevented by use of selenium. Open access paper: 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 size24

ExposureRF · 2100 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with controls, the EMF-exposed group (2100 MHz) showed decreased LH, FSH, GnRH, testosterone, sperm count, germinal epithelium thickness, and seminiferous tubule diameter, and increased leptin, sperm abnormality, aromatase level, apoptotic cells (caspase-3), and leptin receptor. Compared with the EMF-only group, the EMF+selenium group showed higher sperm count and reproductive hormone levels and lower sperm abnormality, leptin receptor, and apoptotic cells.

Outcomes measured

Serum LH
Serum FSH
Serum GnRH
Serum testosterone
Serum leptin
Serum aromatase levels
Testis weight
Testis volume index
Sperm count
Sperm abnormality percent
Seminiferous tubule diameter
Germinal epithelium thickness
Leptin receptor immunoreactivity/expression in testis
Caspase-3 immunoreactivity (apoptotic cells)

Limitations

Exposure duration not stated in abstract
Specific exposure setup/dosimetry (e.g., SAR, power density, distance) not reported in abstract
Journal field not provided in metadata

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 2100,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Male Wistar rats",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Serum LH",
    "Serum FSH",
    "Serum GnRH",
    "Serum testosterone",
    "Serum leptin",
    "Serum aromatase levels",
    "Testis weight",
    "Testis volume index",
    "Sperm count",
    "Sperm abnormality percent",
    "Seminiferous tubule diameter",
    "Germinal epithelium thickness",
    "Leptin receptor immunoreactivity/expression in testis",
    "Caspase-3 immunoreactivity (apoptotic cells)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with controls, the EMF-exposed group (2100 MHz) showed decreased LH, FSH, GnRH, testosterone, sperm count, germinal epithelium thickness, and seminiferous tubule diameter, and increased leptin, sperm abnormality, aromatase level, apoptotic cells (caspase-3), and leptin receptor. Compared with the EMF-only group, the EMF+selenium group showed higher sperm count and reproductive hormone levels and lower sperm abnormality, leptin receptor, and apoptotic cells.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not stated in abstract",
    "Specific exposure setup/dosimetry (e.g., SAR, power density, distance) not reported in abstract",
    "Journal field not provided in metadata"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic field",
    "2100 MHz",
    "mobile",
    "selenium",
    "rat testis",
    "male reproductive system",
    "apoptosis",
    "caspase-3",
    "aromatase P450",
    "leptin receptor",
    "sperm parameters",
    "LH",
    "FSH",
    "GnRH",
    "testosterone"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "male-fertility",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Assesses testicular histology, sperm parameters, and reproductive hormones in male rats under RF exposure."
    },
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.75,
      "reason": "Exposure described as EMF emitted by mobiles at 2100 MHz."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.22038/ijbms.2021.45358.10554
PubMed: Not supplied

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