Differential metabolic responses of mouse Leydig and spermatogonia cells to radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure

Frontiers in Public Health · 2025 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 2527

Study snapshot

PublicationFrontiers in Public Health · 2025

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Category: Reproductive Biology, Metabolomics Tags: radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, Leydig cells, spermatogonia, metabolism, reproductive health, metabolomics, glutathione DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1623701 URL: frontiersin.org Introduction Existing studies have shown that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) have a variety of effects on living organisms. However, the specific impact of RF-EMFs on the metabolism of reproductive cells and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to explore the effects of RF-EMFs on the metabolism of mouse Leydig cells (TM3) and spermatogonia cells (GC-1) using metabolomics analysis. The goal is to reveal potential mechanisms by which RF-EMFs affect reproductive health. Methods - Used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to analyze metabolomic profiles. - Examined TM3 and GC-1 cells under two irradiation modalities: continuous and intermittent RF-EMF exposure. - Employed KEGG pathway analysis for significantly enriched metabolic pathways. - Used ELISA to detect glutathione levels. Results - Continuous irradiation had a more pronounced impact on TM3 cell metabolism, particularly affecting: - Amino acid metabolism - The citric acid cycle - ABC transporters - Bile secretion - Glutathione metabolism - Intermittent irradiation altered levels of fatty acyls and purine nucleosides, showing - Significant enrichment in purine metabolism - Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids - Fatty acid metabolism - GC-1 cells exhibited lower sensitivity to RF-EMF irradiation compared to TM3 cells. - Both irradiation modalities affected purine metabolism and lysine degradation pathways in TM3 cells. - ADP level changes may serve as a key metabolic signature in cellular response to RF-EMF exposure. Conclusion Continuous RF-EMF irradiation significantly impacts TM3 cell metabolism especially in amino acid and glutathione pathways, while intermittent irradiation mainly disturbs fatty acyl and purine metabolism. GC-1 cells are less sensitive to RF-EMF. Changes in ADP levels may represent a key metabolic signature of RF-EMF exposure. These metabolic disturbances are evidence of a mechanistic link between RF-EMF exposure and altered reproductive cell function, indicating potential health risks associated with EMF exposure.

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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 typein_vitro

Effect directionharm

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

LC-MS metabolomics indicated that continuous RF-EMF irradiation produced more pronounced metabolic changes in TM3 Leydig cells, affecting amino acid metabolism, the citric acid cycle, ABC transporters, bile secretion, and glutathione metabolism. Intermittent irradiation was associated with altered fatty acyls and purine nucleosides with enrichment in purine metabolism and fatty acid-related pathways. GC-1 spermatogonia cells were reported as less sensitive than TM3 cells, and ADP level changes were suggested as a key metabolic signature of RF-EMF exposure.

Outcomes measured

Metabolomic profile changes in mouse Leydig (TM3) cells
Metabolomic profile changes in mouse spermatogonia (GC-1) cells
Pathway enrichment (KEGG) including amino acid metabolism, citric acid cycle, ABC transporters, bile secretion, glutathione metabolism, purine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid metabolism, lysine degradation
Glutathione levels (ELISA)
ADP level changes as a metabolic signature

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Metabolomic profile changes in mouse Leydig (TM3) cells",
    "Metabolomic profile changes in mouse spermatogonia (GC-1) cells",
    "Pathway enrichment (KEGG) including amino acid metabolism, citric acid cycle, ABC transporters, bile secretion, glutathione metabolism, purine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid metabolism, lysine degradation",
    "Glutathione levels (ELISA)",
    "ADP level changes as a metabolic signature"
  ],
  "main_findings": "LC-MS metabolomics indicated that continuous RF-EMF irradiation produced more pronounced metabolic changes in TM3 Leydig cells, affecting amino acid metabolism, the citric acid cycle, ABC transporters, bile secretion, and glutathione metabolism. Intermittent irradiation was associated with altered fatty acyls and purine nucleosides with enrichment in purine metabolism and fatty acid-related pathways. GC-1 spermatogonia cells were reported as less sensitive than TM3 cells, and ADP level changes were suggested as a key metabolic signature of RF-EMF exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "Leydig cells",
    "TM3",
    "spermatogonia",
    "GC-1",
    "metabolomics",
    "LC-MS",
    "KEGG pathway analysis",
    "glutathione",
    "ADP",
    "purine metabolism",
    "fatty acid metabolism",
    "reproductive health"
  ],
  "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: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1623701
PubMed: Not supplied

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