Effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure on pachytene spermatocyte cell quantity in Webster strain male mice

Abstract

Many electronic devices that are used in daily life can produce an extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic field that may disturb human reproductive organs. Several studies have shown disturbances in spermatogenesis, which decreases sperm production. We aimed to determine the accumulative effect of exposure to a low frequency magnetic field on pachytene spermatocyte cells in mice. The cells were exposed to electromagnetic fields of 0 kV (control), 3 kV/10 cm 5.5 μT (Group 1), 4 kV/10 cm 5.4 μT (Group 2), and 5 kV/10 cm 5.3 μT (Group 3) in first (F1), second (F2), and third (F3) generation mice. The cell number decreased in all exposure Groups compared to the control Group (P < 0.05). Group 1 exposure had no accumulative effects on any generation (P > 0.05). Group 2 exposure showed an accumulative effect on the F1 and F2 generations, while Group 3 exposure had an accumulative effect on F2 and F3 generations. Moreover, for all three groups, exposure was correlated with proportional decrease in cell number. ELF electromagnetic field exposure caused decreased pachytene spermatocyte cell numbers and had an accumulative effect on each generation.