Biochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometrical investigation of the effect of thymoquinone on the rat testis following exposure to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field

2019 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1632

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Biochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometrical investigation of the effect of thymoquinone on the rat testis following exposure to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field Yahyazadeh A, Altunkaynak BZ, Kaplan S. Biochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometrical investigation of the effect of thymoquinone on the rat testis following exposure to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field. Acta Histochem. 2019 Nov 26:151467. doi: 10.1016/j.acthis.2019.151467. Abstract Long-term use of cell phones emitting electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have raised concerns regarding public health in recent year. We aimed to investigate the possible effects of 900 MHz EMF exposure (60 min/day for 28 days) on the rat testis. Another objective was to determine whether the deleterious effect of EMF radiation would be reduced by the administration of thymoquinone (TQ) (10 mg/kg/day). Twenty-four male adult Wistar albino rats were randomly selected, then assigned into four groups as followControl, EMF, TQ and EMF + TQ. Testicular samples were analyzed using histological, stereological, biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. Total numbers of primary spermatocytes and spermatids as well as Leydig cells were significantly decreased in the EMF group compared to the Control group (p < 0.05). In the EMF + TQ group, the total number of primary spermatocytes was significantly increased compared to the EMF group (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly increased in the EMF group compared to the Control group (p < 0.05). Also, serum testosterone levels and wet weight of testes were significantly decreased in the EMF group compared to the Control group (p < 0.05). Our findings suggested that exposure to a 900 MHz EMF had adverse effects on rat testicular tissue and that the administration of TQ partially mitigated testicular oxidative damages caused by EMF radiation. 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 adult Wistar albino rats

Sample size24

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 60 min/day for 28 days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with controls, the EMF-exposed group had significantly decreased total numbers of primary spermatocytes, spermatids, and Leydig cells, and significantly decreased serum testosterone and testis wet weight (p<0.05). SOD activity was significantly increased in the EMF group versus control (p<0.05). In the EMF+thymoquinone group, the total number of primary spermatocytes was significantly increased compared with the EMF group (p<0.05), suggesting partial mitigation of EMF-associated changes.

Outcomes measured

Testicular histology/stereology (primary spermatocytes, spermatids, Leydig cells)
Biochemical markers (superoxide dismutase activity)
Serum testosterone
Wet weight of testes

Limitations

Specific exposure dosimetry (e.g., SAR) not reported in abstract
Animal study; generalizability to humans not established in abstract
Details of randomization/blinding and statistical methods not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "60 min/day for 28 days"
  },
  "population": "Male adult Wistar albino rats",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Testicular histology/stereology (primary spermatocytes, spermatids, Leydig cells)",
    "Biochemical markers (superoxide dismutase activity)",
    "Serum testosterone",
    "Wet weight of testes"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with controls, the EMF-exposed group had significantly decreased total numbers of primary spermatocytes, spermatids, and Leydig cells, and significantly decreased serum testosterone and testis wet weight (p<0.05). SOD activity was significantly increased in the EMF group versus control (p<0.05). In the EMF+thymoquinone group, the total number of primary spermatocytes was significantly increased compared with the EMF group (p<0.05), suggesting partial mitigation of EMF-associated changes.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Specific exposure dosimetry (e.g., SAR) not reported in abstract",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not established in abstract",
    "Details of randomization/blinding and statistical methods not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "900 MHz",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "cell phone",
    "rat testis",
    "thymoquinone",
    "oxidative stress",
    "superoxide dismutase",
    "testosterone",
    "spermatocytes",
    "Leydig cells"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-male-fertility",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Rat testis outcomes (spermatogenesis cells, testosterone) after 900 MHz RF-EMF 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.acthis.2019.151467
PubMed: Not supplied

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