Open AccessEvaluation of spermatogenesis and fertility in F1 male rats after in utero and neonatal exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields
Author(s) -
Chung M. K.,
Lee S. J.,
Kim Y. B.,
Park S. C.,
Shin D. H.,
Kim S. H.,
Kim J. C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
asian journal of andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1745-7262
pISSN - 1008-682X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2005.00007.x
Subject(s) - offspring , spermatogenesis , sperm , anogenital distance , gestation , lactation , in utero , biology , fertility , andrology , pregnancy , physiology , medicine , endocrinology , population , fetus , genetics , environmental health
Aim: To determine whether in utero and neonatal exposure to a 60 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) results in spermatotoxicity and reproductive dysfunction in the F1 offspring of rats. Methods: Age‐matched, pregnant Sprague‐Dawley rats were exposed continuously (21 h/day) to a 60 Hz EMF at field strengths of 0 (sham control), 5, 83.3 or 500 μT from day 6 of gestation through to day 21 of lactation. The experimentally generated magnetic field was monitored continuously (uninterrupted monitoring over the period of the study) throughout the study. Results: No exposure‐related changes were found in exposed or sham‐exposed animals with respect to the anogenital distance, preputial separation, testis weight, testicular histology, sperm count, daily sperm production, sperm motility, sperm morphology and reproductive capacity of F1 offspring. Conclusion: Exposure of Sprague‐Dawley rats to a 60 Hz EMF at field strengths of up to 500 μT from day 6 of gestation to day 21 of lactation did not produce any detectable alterations in offspring spermatogenesis and fertility.