The effect of the electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones on the testis morphology of rats

Year 2013, Volume: 3 Issue: 3, 138 - 144, 30.01.2014

Olgu Enis Tok Feriha Ercan

Abstract

Objective: The electromagnetic waves (EMW) emitted by commonly used mobile phones are reported to have effects on many tissues. In this study, we aimed to show the effect of EMW emitted by mobile phone with DSC 1800 carrier frequency and pulse repetition frequency of 217 Hz which has the highest SAR value 1.79 W/kg on the morphological changes of rat testis.

Method: Wistar-albino rats were used in this study (n= 6 for each group) and were divided to 5 experimental groups as Control, Standby Fetal, Standby, EMW Fetal and EMW. Application of EMW was performed for 2 hours per day until the birth in fetal experimental groups and until postnatal 60th day in other experimental groups. Testes of the rats in all experimental groups were taken at postnatal 60th day under ether anesthesia. The body and testis of the rats were weighed. Testis tissues were fixed with Bouin solution and routine paraffin processing was done. Paraffin sections were stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin, then, diameter and area of seminiferous tubules were measured and histopathological scoring was done.

Results: While body weight of the rats was decreased in only EMW group, testis weight, seminiferous tubule area and seminiferous tubule diameter were decreased in the EMW Fetal and EMW groups. Seminiferous tubules with normal morphology were not significantly decreased in the Standby group, but, significantly decreased in the EMW Fetal and EMW groups. Degenerative and atrophic tubules were found to be significantly increased in the EMW group.

Conclusion: EMW emitted by mobile phones showed adverse effects on testis morphology in speaks mode. As a result, detailed studies on the blood-testis barrier that regulates spermatogenesis and Leydig cells are needed in order to show the effects of EMW on male fertility.

Key words: Cell phone, electromagnetic waves, testis, rat

Keywords

Cell phone, electromagnetic waves, testis, rat

Cep telefonlarının yaydığı elektromanyetik dalgaların sıçan testis morfolojisi üzerine etkileri

Abstract

Amaç: Kullanım alanı yaygın olan cep telefonlarının yaydığı elektromanyetik dalgaların (EMD) birçok doku üzerine etkileri olduğu bildirilmektedir. Bu çalışmada GSM 1800 iletişim frekansına ve 217 Hz aşırı alçak dalga (ELF) atış tekrar frekansına (PRF) sahip ve en yüksek özgül soğurma değeri (SAR) 1,79 W/kg olan cep telefonunun yaydığı EMD’nin sıçan testis morfolojisinde meydana getirdiği değişiklikleri göstermek amaçlanmıştır.

Yöntem: Çalışmamızda Wistar-albino türü sıçanlar kullanılmış (her grup için n=6) ve 1) Kontrol, 2) EMD, 3) EMD Fötal, 4) Stand by (Bekleme) ve 5) Bekleme Fötal olmak üzere 5 deney grubu oluşturulmuştur. Kontrol grubu hariç, fötal deney grupları doğuma kadar, diğer deney grupları ise doğumdan sonraki 60. güne kadar günde 2 saat olmak üzere her gün EMD’ye tabi tutulmuşlardır. Tüm deney gruplarındaki sıçanların testisleri doğum sonrası 60. günde eter anestezisi altında alınmıştır. Sıçanların vücut ve testis ağırlıkları tartılmıştır. Testis dokuları Bouin solüsyonu ile fikse edildikten sonra rutin parafin takibi uygulanmıştır. Parafin kesitlere Hematoksilin & Eosin boyası uygulanmıştır ve boyalı kesitlerde seminifer tübül çapı ve alanı ölçümleri ve histopatolojik skorlama yapılmıştır.

Bulgular: Sadece EMD grubunda sıçan ağırlığı düşüş gösterirken, EMD Fötal ve EMD gruplarında testis ağırlığının, seminifer tübül alanının ve seminifer tübül çapının düştüğü gözlenmiştir. Normal tübül yapısı Bekleme grubunda azalmakla birlikte anlamlı değildir, EMD Fötal ve EMD gruplarında anlamlı şekilde azalmıştır ve EMD grubunda ise dejeneratif ve atrofik tübül sayısındaki artış anlamlıdır.

Sonuç: Bu çalışmada konuşur konumdaki cep telefonlarının yaydığı EMD’lerin testis morfolojisi üzerine olumsuz etkileri gösterilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, EMD’nin erkek fertilitesi üzerine etkilerini gösterebilmek için spermatogenezi düzenleyen kan testis bariyeri ve Leydig hücreleri ile ilgili yapılacak olan detaylı çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Anahtar Kelimeler : Cep telefonu, elektromanyetik dalgalar, testis, sıçan

Keywords

Cep telefonu, elektromanyetik dalgalar, testis, sıçan

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