Author: Zalata A1, El-Samanoudy AZ1, Shaalan D1, El-Baiomy Y2, Mostafa T3.
Affiliation: 1Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. 2Department of Dermatology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. 3Department of Andrology and Sexology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Conference/Journal: Int J Fertil Steril.
Date published: 2015 Apr-Jun
Other:
Volume ID: 9 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 129-36 , Word Count: 248
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.
KEYWORDS:
Cell Phone; Electromagnetic Radiation; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa
PMID: 25918601