The protective effect of melatonin on radiofrequency electromagnetic fields of mobile phone-induced testicular damage in an experimental mouse model

Andrologia · 2020 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1794

Study snapshot

PublicationAndrologia · 2020

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The protective effect of melatonin on radiofrequency electromagnetic fields of mobile phone-induced testicular damage in an experimental mouse model Mitra Shokri, Mohammad E Shamsaei, Abbasali K Malekshah, Fereshteh T Amiri. The protective effect of melatonin on radiofrequency electromagnetic fields of mobile phone-induced testicular damage in an experimental mouse model. Andrologia. 2020 Oct 11;e13834. doi: 10.1111/and.13834. Abstract Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from mobile devices has undesirable effects on the male reproductive organs. Melatonin with antioxidant potential can help to prevent these damages. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of melatonin on testicular damage induced by RF-EMR of mobile phone. In this experimental study, 32 adult male BALB/c mice were divided randomly into four groups: control, melatonin (2 mg/kg, for 30 consecutive days, intraperitoneally), RF-EMR (900 MHz, 100 to 300 MT, 54 to 160 W/m) (4 hr per day, whole body) and melatonin + RF-EMR groups. One day after the last prescription were evaluated oxidative stress parameters, testosterone level and histopathological assays of the testis. EMR of mobile phone led to the induction of oxidative stress, testicular tissue damage and decreased testosterone. Treatment with melatonin improved oxidative stress parameters such as MDA and GSH, and testis injury score, increased the thickness of the germinal epithelial thickness and diameter of the seminiferous tubule, and decreased testosterone hormone in the EMR-exposed mice, and these differences were significant(p < .05). Data showed that melatonin with its antioxidant property can decrease oxidative damage induced by RF-EMR of mobile phones on testis tissue. 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

PopulationAdult male BALB/c mice

Sample size32

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 4 hr/day for 30 consecutive days (whole body)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mobile phone RF-EMR exposure (900 MHz) was associated with increased oxidative stress, testicular tissue damage, and decreased testosterone versus control. In RF-EMR-exposed mice, melatonin treatment significantly improved oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH) and histopathology measures (injury score, germinal epithelial thickness, seminiferous tubule diameter) (p<.05); the abstract also states testosterone decreased in EMR-exposed mice receiving melatonin.

Outcomes measured

Oxidative stress parameters (MDA, GSH)
Testosterone level
Testis histopathology (testis injury score, germinal epithelial thickness, seminiferous tubule diameter)

Limitations

Animal model; results may not generalize to humans
No SAR reported
Exposure metrics reported (e.g., MT, W/m) but not fully contextualized in abstract
Direction of melatonin effect on testosterone is unclear/internally inconsistent in the abstract (reports both decreased testosterone from RF-EMR and decreased testosterone with melatonin in exposed mice)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "4 hr/day for 30 consecutive days (whole body)"
  },
  "population": "Adult male BALB/c mice",
  "sample_size": 32,
  "outcomes": [
    "Oxidative stress parameters (MDA, GSH)",
    "Testosterone level",
    "Testis histopathology (testis injury score, germinal epithelial thickness, seminiferous tubule diameter)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Mobile phone RF-EMR exposure (900 MHz) was associated with increased oxidative stress, testicular tissue damage, and decreased testosterone versus control. In RF-EMR-exposed mice, melatonin treatment significantly improved oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH) and histopathology measures (injury score, germinal epithelial thickness, seminiferous tubule diameter) (p<.05); the abstract also states testosterone decreased in EMR-exposed mice receiving melatonin.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal model; results may not generalize to humans",
    "No SAR reported",
    "Exposure metrics reported (e.g., MT, W/m) but not fully contextualized in abstract",
    "Direction of melatonin effect on testosterone is unclear/internally inconsistent in the abstract (reports both decreased testosterone from RF-EMR and decreased testosterone with melatonin in exposed mice)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation",
    "RF-EMR",
    "mobile phone",
    "900 MHz",
    "testis",
    "testicular damage",
    "oxidative stress",
    "melatonin",
    "MDA",
    "GSH",
    "testosterone",
    "mouse"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "melatonin-antioxidants",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Study tests melatonin as an antioxidant intervention against RF-EMR-induced oxidative/testicular damage."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1111/and.13834
PubMed: 33040351

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