In vitro effect of cell phone radiation on motility, DNA fragmentation and clusterin gene expression in human sperm.

International journal of fertility & sterility · 2015 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4781

Compared with non-exposed aliquots, semen samples exposed in vitro to cell phone RF-EMF for 1 hour showed decreased sperm motility measures and acrosin activity and increased sperm DNA fragmentation, CLU gene expression, and CLU protein levels (p<0.05). Effec…

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of fertility & sterility · 2015

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Use of cellular phones emitting radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) has been increased exponentially and become a part of everyday life. This study aimed to investigate the effects of in vitro RF-EMF exposure emitted from cellular phones on sperm motility index, sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal clusterin (CLU) gene expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, a total of 124 semen samples were grouped into the following main categories: i. normozoospermia (N, n=26), ii. asthenozoospermia (A, n=32), iii. asthenoteratozoospermia (AT, n=31) and iv. oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT, n=35). The same semen samples were then divided into two portions non-exposed and exposed samples to cell phone radiation for 1 hour. Before and immediately after exposure, both aliquots were subjected to different assessments for sperm motility, acrosin activity, sperm DNA fragmentation and CLU gene expression. Statistical differences were analyzed using paired t student test for comparisons between two sub-groups where p<0.05 was set as significant. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in sperm motility, sperm linear velocity, sperm linearity index, and sperm acrosin activity, whereas there was a significant increase in sperm DNA fragmentation percent, CLU gene expression and CLU protein levels in the exposed semen samples to RF-EMF compared with non-exposed samples in OAT>AT>A>N groups, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cell phone emissions have a negative impact on exposed sperm motility index, sperm acrosin activity, sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal CLU gene expression, especially in OAT cases.

Machine Enhanced Logic

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

PopulationHuman semen samples (normozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia groups)

Sample size124

ExposureRF · 1 hour

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Sperm motility index
Sperm linear velocity
Sperm linearity index
Sperm acrosin activity
Sperm DNA fragmentation percent
Seminal clusterin (CLU) gene expression
CLU protein levels

Limitations

In vitro exposure model; may not reflect in vivo conditions
Exposure characteristics (e.g., frequency, SAR, power density, distance) not reported in abstract
Short exposure duration (1 hour) with immediate post-exposure assessment only
Potential for multiple comparisons across several endpoints and subgroups; adjustment not described in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 hour"
  },
  "population": "Human semen samples (normozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia groups)",
  "sample_size": 124,
  "outcomes": [
    "Sperm motility index",
    "Sperm linear velocity",
    "Sperm linearity index",
    "Sperm acrosin activity",
    "Sperm DNA fragmentation percent",
    "Seminal clusterin (CLU) gene expression",
    "CLU protein levels"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with non-exposed aliquots, semen samples exposed in vitro to cell phone RF-EMF for 1 hour showed decreased sperm motility measures and acrosin activity and increased sperm DNA fragmentation, CLU gene expression, and CLU protein levels (p<0.05). Effects were reported as greatest in OAT, then AT, A, and N groups.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro exposure model; may not reflect in vivo conditions",
    "Exposure characteristics (e.g., frequency, SAR, power density, distance) not reported in abstract",
    "Short exposure duration (1 hour) with immediate post-exposure assessment only",
    "Potential for multiple comparisons across several endpoints and subgroups; adjustment not described in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "cell phone radiation",
    "in vitro",
    "human sperm",
    "motility",
    "DNA fragmentation",
    "clusterin",
    "CLU",
    "acrosin activity",
    "male fertility"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study evaluates RF-EMF emitted from cellular phones and sperm outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.22074/ijfs.2015.4217
PubMed: 25918601

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