Radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from GSM (0.9/1.8GHz) mobile phones induces oxidative stress and reduces sperm motility in rats

INTRODUCTION: Mobile phones have become indispensable in the daily lives of men and women around the globe. As cell phone use has become more widespread, concerns have mounted regarding the potentially harmful effects of RF-EMR from these devices. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of RF-EMR from mobile phones on free radical metabolism and sperm quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male albino Wistar rats (10-12 weeks old) were exposed to RF-EMR from an active GSM (0.9/1.8 GHz) mobile phone for 1 hour continuously per day for 28 days. Controls were exposed to a mobile phone without a battery for the same period. The phone was kept in a cage with a wooden bottom in order to address concerns that the effects of exposure to the phone could be due to heat emitted by the phone rather than to RF-EMR alone. Animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last exposure and tissues of interest were harvested. RESULTS: One hour of exposure to the phone did not significantly change facial temperature in either group of rats. No significant difference was observed in total sperm count between controls and RF-EMR exposed groups. However, rats exposed to RF-EMR exhibited a significantly reduced percentage of motile sperm. Moreover, RF-EMR exposure resulted in a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and low GSH content in the testis and epididymis. CONCLUSION: Given the results of the present study, we speculate that RF-EMR from mobile phones negatively affects semen quality and may impair male fertility.

Effect of ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, lecithin and L-ornithine-L-aspartate on ethanol induced hypoproteinemia and hyperlipidemia in rats.

We studied effect of exogenous ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, lecithin and L-ornithine-L-aspartate on serum lipids and proteins in experimental hepatotoxic Wistar rats. Eleven groups (n = 6) of animals were used. Hepatotoxicity was induced by administering ethanol (1.6 g/kg/day) for 28 days. Both preventive and curative options were studied. Percentage increase in body weight was significantly lower in ethanol treated rats. Ethanol significantly (P<0.05) increased cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL, and decreased protein, albumin and A:G ratio in serum. Ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, lecithin and L-ornithine-L-aspartate exhibited an ability to counteract the alcohol-induced changes in the body weight and biochemical parameters in preventive and therapeutic models in varying degree. Antioxidants showed better effect.

Effect of exogenous lecithin on ethanol-induced testicular injuries in Wistar rats.

Infertility is well-established harmful effect in chronic alcoholism and so far, there is no effective treatment for this condition. The study was conducted to determine the effects of lecithin, a known hepatoprotective on ethanol induced testicular injuries in male albino rats of Wistar strain. Five groups (n=6) of animals were used. Group I served as control. Group II received daily 1.6 g ethanol/kg body weight/day for 4 weeks orally. Group III received 1.6 g ethanol + 500 mg lecithin/kg body weight/day for four weeks orally. Group IV received 1.6 g ethanol/kg body weight for/day 4 weeks and followed by 500 mg lecithin/kg body weight/ day for four weeks orally. Group V received 1.6 g ethanol/kg body weight/ day orally for 4 weeks, followed by 4 weeks abstinence. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment the rats were sacrificed using anesthetic ether. Testes were removed and used for the estimation of extent of lipid peroxidation and tissue levels of antioxidants and steroidogenic enzymes. Lecithin protected testes from ethanol induced oxidative stress. However, the drug did not show any considerable effect on the activities of testicular delta5, 3beta-HSD and 17beta-HSD. In conclusion, ethanol induced oxidative stress can be reversed by treatment with lecithin. However the effect of lecithin on steroidogenesis was not promising.

Effect of chronic ethanol administration on testicular antioxidant system and steroidogenic enzyme activity in rats.

In order to find out the effect of chronic ethanol administration on testicular antioxidant system and steroidogenic enzyme activity, male rats fed with ethanol 1.6g/kg body weight per day for four weeks were studied. Besides a drastic reduction in body and testis weight, there was decrease in ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase in the testicular tissue of the treated animals. Simultaneously, there was increase in lipid peroxidation and glutathione S-transferase activity. Activities of 3 beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and 17 beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase were also found decreased in the treated animals. The results indicate that chronic ethanol administration resulted in increase in oxidative stress and decrease in the activities of steroidogenic enzymes in the rat testes.