Exposure of the Scrotum to 4G Cellphone Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation Affects the Spermatogenesis and Blood-Testis Barrier of Adult Male Rats

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the direct impact of exposure of the scrotum to 4G cellphone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) on the testis of adult rats.METHODS:We equally randomized 30 adult male SD rats into a control and an exposure group, the latter exposed to 4G cellphone RF-EMR 6 hours a day for 150 days. Then, we analyzed the changes in semen quality and seminiferous epithelia, and measured the levels antioxidant enzyme-peroxide and the expressions of blood-testis barrier proteins in the testis of the rats.RESULTS:Compared with the controls, the rats in the exposure group showed significantly decreased sperm concentration (［6.39 ± 0.82］ vs ［4.74 ± 0.87］ ×107/ml, P < 0.05), viability (［62.11 ± 8.82］% vs ［41.44 ± 7.33］%, P < 0.05), motility (［55.71 ± 7.39］ vs ［36.22 ± 6.36］%, P < 0.05), the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (［84.89 ± 5.11］% vs ［70.78 ± 8.11］%, P < 0.05) and Johnsen's score (8.38 ± 0.98 vs 6.11 ± 1.56, P < 0.05), increased Coentino's score (1.36 ± 0.21 vs 1.81 ± 0.34, P < 0.05) and MDA level (P < 0.05), reduced levels of SOD, GSH and CAT (P < 0.05), and down-regulated expressions of occludin, ZO-1, CAR and N-Cadherin (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Exposure of the scrotum to 4G cellphone RF-EMR directly causes injury of the testis, disorder of the blood-testis barrier, reduction of semen quality and consequently decline in the fertility of male rats.