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Effects of wireless local area network exposure on testicular morphology and VEGF levels

Sci Rep · 2026 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 2454

Compared with controls, rats exposed to 2.45 GHz EMF showed increased VEGFA gene expression (p < 0.05) and VEGFA protein levels (p < 0.001), with no significant change in HIF1A gene expression. Histology showed reduced seminiferous tubule diameter, epithelial…

Study snapshot

PublicationSci Rep · 2026
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Category: Toxicology Tags: EMF, wireless LAN, testicular damage, VEGF, HIF1A-VEGF pathway, male fertility, 2.45 GHz DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-37323-2 URL: nature.com Overview This study investigated the impact of exposure to a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field (EMF), typical of wireless local area networks (WLAN), on testicular health in rats. The focus was on both histological changes and alterations in the HIF1A-VEGF pathway, crucial for vascular function and tissue health. - 🌡️ Twenty-four adult male albino Wistar rats were divided into a control group (no EMF exposure) and an experimental group (exposed to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation at 3 V/m, SAR 0.00208 W/kg) for one hour daily over 60 days. - 🔬 Testicular tissue was analyzed post-exposure for: - Histopathological changes - Gene expression levels (VEGFA and HIF1A) - VEGFA protein concentration Findings - ⬆️ VEGFA gene expression (p < 0.05) and protein levels (p < 0.001) were elevated in the EMF-exposed group, while HIF1A expression remained unchanged. - 🔻 Significant histological damage was observed in the EMF group: - Reduced seminiferous tubule diameter (p < 0.001) - Decreased epithelial thickness (p < 0.001) - Lower tubule density (p < 0.001) - Reduced Sertoli cell count (p = 0.0098) Conclusion Exposure to EMF at 2.45 GHz increases VEGF levels independently of HIF1A, suggesting the risk of testicular damage associated with wireless LAN frequency EMF. This provides clear evidence of a link between EMF exposure and male reproductive health risks.

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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
PopulationAdult male albino Wistar rats
Sample size24
Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz · 0.00208 W/kg · 1 hour daily for 60 days
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with controls, rats exposed to 2.45 GHz EMF showed increased VEGFA gene expression (p < 0.05) and VEGFA protein levels (p < 0.001), with no significant change in HIF1A gene expression. Histology showed reduced seminiferous tubule diameter, epithelial thickness, tubule density (all p < 0.001), and Sertoli cell count (p = 0.0098) in the exposed group.

Outcomes measured

  • Testicular histopathology (seminiferous tubule diameter, epithelial thickness, tubule density, Sertoli cell count)
  • VEGFA gene expression
  • HIF1A gene expression
  • VEGFA protein concentration
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "wireless local area network (WLAN) / 2.45 GHz EMF",
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": 0.00208,
    "duration": "1 hour daily for 60 days"
  },
  "population": "Adult male albino Wistar rats",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Testicular histopathology (seminiferous tubule diameter, epithelial thickness, tubule density, Sertoli cell count)",
    "VEGFA gene expression",
    "HIF1A gene expression",
    "VEGFA protein concentration"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with controls, rats exposed to 2.45 GHz EMF showed increased VEGFA gene expression (p < 0.05) and VEGFA protein levels (p < 0.001), with no significant change in HIF1A gene expression. Histology showed reduced seminiferous tubule diameter, epithelial thickness, tubule density (all p < 0.001), and Sertoli cell count (p = 0.0098) in the exposed group.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "2.45 GHz",
    "microwave radiation",
    "WLAN",
    "Wi-Fi",
    "rat",
    "testis",
    "testicular morphology",
    "VEGFA",
    "HIF1A",
    "Sertoli cells",
    "seminiferous tubules",
    "SAR"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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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: 10.1038/s41598-026-37323-2
PubMed: Not supplied

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