RF radiation (900 MHz)-induced DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in testicular germ cells in mice

2016 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1453

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

RF radiation (900 MHz)-induced DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in testicular germ cells in mice Pandey N, Giri S, Das S, Upadhaya P. Radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in testicular germ cells in swiss albino mice. Toxicol Ind Health. 2016 Oct 13. pii: 0748233716671206. Abstract Even though there are contradictory reports regarding the cellular and molecular changes induced by mobile phone emitted radiofrequency radiation (RFR), the possibility of any biological effect cannot be ruled out. In view of a widespread and extensive use of mobile phones, this study evaluates alterations in male germ cell transformation kinetics following RFR exposure and after recovery. Swiss albino mice were exposed to RFR (900 MHz) for 4 h and 8 h duration per day for 35 days. One group of animals was terminated after the exposure period, while others were kept for an additional 35 days post-exposure. RFR exposure caused depolarization of mitochondrial membranes resulting in destabilized cellular redox homeostasis. Statistically significant increases in the damage index in germ cells and sperm head defects were noted in RFR-exposed animals. Flow cytometric estimation of germ cell subtypes in mice testis revealed 2.5-fold increases in spermatogonial populations with significant decreases in spermatids. Almost fourfold reduction in spermatogonia to spermatid turnover (1C:2C) and three times reduction in primary spermatocyte to spermatid turnover (1C:4C) was found indicating arrest in the premeiotic stage of spermatogenesis, which resulted in loss of post-meiotic germ cells apparent from testis histology and low sperm count in RFR-exposed animals. Histological alterations such as sloughing of immature germ cells into the seminiferous tubule lumen, epithelium depletion and maturation arrest were also observed. However, all these changes showed recovery to varied degrees following the post-exposure period indicating that the adverse effects of RFR on mice germ cells are detrimental but reversible. To conclude, RFR exposure- induced oxidative stress causes DNA damage in germ cells, which alters cell cycle progression leading to low sperm count in mice. 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

PopulationSwiss albino mice (male; testicular germ cells)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 4 h/day or 8 h/day for 35 days; some animals followed for an additional 35 days post-exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mice exposed to 900 MHz RFR for 35 days showed statistically significant increases in germ-cell DNA damage index and sperm head defects, along with mitochondrial membrane depolarization and disrupted redox homeostasis. Flow cytometry and histology indicated altered germ cell populations and arrest in premeiotic stages of spermatogenesis with low sperm count; changes showed partial/variable recovery after a 35-day post-exposure period.

Outcomes measured

DNA damage in germ cells (damage index)
Cell cycle arrest / altered spermatogenesis kinetics
Mitochondrial membrane depolarization
Oxidative stress / redox homeostasis disruption
Sperm head defects
Changes in germ cell subtypes (spermatogonia, spermatids) by flow cytometry
Testis histology alterations (sloughing, epithelium depletion, maturation arrest)
Sperm count

Limitations

Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
Specific exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, power density) not reported in provided abstract/metadata
Details of exposure setup and controls not provided in provided abstract/metadata

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "4 h/day or 8 h/day for 35 days; some animals followed for an additional 35 days post-exposure"
  },
  "population": "Swiss albino mice (male; testicular germ cells)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA damage in germ cells (damage index)",
    "Cell cycle arrest / altered spermatogenesis kinetics",
    "Mitochondrial membrane depolarization",
    "Oxidative stress / redox homeostasis disruption",
    "Sperm head defects",
    "Changes in germ cell subtypes (spermatogonia, spermatids) by flow cytometry",
    "Testis histology alterations (sloughing, epithelium depletion, maturation arrest)",
    "Sperm count"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Mice exposed to 900 MHz RFR for 35 days showed statistically significant increases in germ-cell DNA damage index and sperm head defects, along with mitochondrial membrane depolarization and disrupted redox homeostasis. Flow cytometry and histology indicated altered germ cell populations and arrest in premeiotic stages of spermatogenesis with low sperm count; changes showed partial/variable recovery after a 35-day post-exposure period.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Specific exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, power density) not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Details of exposure setup and controls not provided in provided abstract/metadata"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "900 MHz",
    "radiofrequency radiation",
    "mobile phone",
    "testis",
    "germ cells",
    "DNA damage",
    "oxidative stress",
    "cell cycle arrest",
    "spermatogenesis",
    "sperm count",
    "mouse"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-bioeffects",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Animal study of 900 MHz RF exposure reporting oxidative stress, DNA damage, and reproductive effects."
    }
  ]
}

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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: Not supplied
PubMed: Not supplied

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