Effects of prenatal exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field on testicular tissues of male rats

Abstract

Aim: Extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) is produced by a large variety of electronic devices in everyday use. This study was therefore undertaken to examine the effects of ELF-MF on oxidative stress parameters in rat testicular tissue. Material and Methods: Twenty-five Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 50 Hz 500μT ELF-MF 24 hours a day, starting from the prenatal period. The exposure continued for further 60 days following the birth. Testicular tissue samples were collected and analyzed. The levels of an oxidative stress marker MDA, and an antioxidant scavenger GSH were investigated. Results: Long-term exposure to ELF-MF increased MDA levels and decreased GSH levels significantly. No correlation was shown between MDA and GSH levels. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, ELF-MF exposure could impair oxidant-antioxidant function and might increase oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in the testicular tissue.