The Effects of Cellular Phone Towers Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation (RFEMR) on the Fertility of Wistar Rat Males

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety of living nearby cell phone towers which emit Radio Frequency- Electromagnetic Radiation (RF-EMR) through in vivo study and what is the risk of these radiations on fertility hormones (FSH, LH and PRL) and histopathological changes of testes of Wistar male rats. A 28 days old male rats 35 - 54.2 g of body weight, were used. Rats were exposed to RFEMR emitted by cell tower base station in Khartoum State. The rats were divided into four different groups. Control animals that were kept without exposure to any RF-EMR. The rats were in the other three groups exposed for 8 weeks to RF-EMR at: 57nw/m2, 37nw/ m2, and 10nw/m2. The exposure to radiation was on daily basis for 10 hours at temperature 30– 33ºC. Fertility hormones viz: FSH, LH and PRL were estimated. Exposure to RF-EMR caused significant decrease in the weight of testes of experimental rats in all groups. Also had significant increase effects on PRL however there was significant decrease in FSH and LH in all groups of rats exposed RF-EMR when compared with the control group. Histopathological examination of testes among groups exposed to RFEMR showed various changes. Most seminiferous tubules of testis of male rats exposed to RF-EMR (57nw/m2) showed polymorphism, necrosis in the germinal epithelial cells, hypertrophy and degeneration of spermatogonia cells, interstitaial oedema, and absence of sperm. While those exposed to RF-EMR (37nw/m2) showed deceleration of spermatogemesis, vaculation of leyding cells, started atrophy of spermatids cells and haemorrhages. Sections of testis of male rats exposed RF-EMR (10nw/m2) showed shrinking of some seminiferous, oedema, hyperplasia and vaculation of spermatocytes, blood vessels dilated, fibrosis of tunica, fusion between some seminiferous tubules. It could be concluded that exposure to RF-EMR emitted from cell tower does represent a significant risk factor for rat reproductive system