The Effect of Mobile Phone Exposure on the Testicular Structure of the Pubertal and the Adult Male Albino Rat

Introduction: Nowadays, mobile phones (MP) have become indispensable devices in our daily life. The electromagnetic waves and biological effects of MP have recently become a crucial subject in scientific studies. As men usually put MP in standby position most of the day in their pockets close to their testes, the assessment of consequences of MP handling on the male reproductive function seems to be of great importance. Electromagnetic exposure has been found to alter the reproductive endocrine hormones and gonadal function in both the pre-pubertal and the adult rats. Other studies declared that prolonged MP use has been associated with a delay in the onset of puberty.
Aim of work: To study the histological structure of the testis of both pubertal and adult male albino rats, upon exposure to MP.
Material and Methods: Forty male albino rats were used in this study, twenty pubertal, aging 6-8 weeks and weighing 140-160 gm, and twenty adult, aging 4-6 months and weighing 200 - 250 gm. Group I (Control Group): composed of twenty rats that were left without mobile exposure and were used as control. It was further subdivided into: Group IA (Control Pubertal Group): consisted of ten pubertal rats. Group IB (Control Adult Group): consisted of ten adult rats. Group II (Mobile Group): composed of twenty rats that were exposed to MP during calling for 1 month. It was further subdivided into: Group IIA (Mobile Pubertal Group): consisted of ten pubertal rats. Group IIB (Mobile Adult Group): consisted of ten adult rats. At the end of the experiment, the testis specimens were collected and processed for light microscopic and immunohistochemical examination and morphometric studies were also done.
Results: Histological examination of the testis sections of the mobile pubertal group stained with Hx. & E showed multiple focal areas of rupture of basement membrane, decrease in the height of epithelial lining of seminiferous tubules with poor discrimination between its spermatogenic stages. Semithin sections revealed multiple areas of patchy depletion of germinal epithelium and some of the existing spermatogenic cells appeared with pyknotic nuclei. An increase in the number of Leyding cells was observed in the interstitial tissue. Immunohistochemical examination for Caspase III showed positively stained cells revealing marked apoptosis. On the other hand, examination of testis sections of the mobile adult group stained with Hx. & E. showed distortion in some seminiferous tubules. Multiple areas of degeneration were noted close to the basement membrane in many tubules. The thickness of the germinal epithelium was relatively decreased with areas of patchy depletion observed among the spermatogenic cells Moreover, some tubules showed disturbance of their normal architecture with almost complete loss of discrimination of their spermatogenic stages . Secretions were noticed in the interstitial tissue with notable adhesion of adjacent tubules. In semithin section Sertoli cells and spermatogonia were few in number .Some primary spermatocytes appeared distorted in shape. Vacuolation in between the seminiferous layers was evident, along with areas of complete depletion from cellular content. An increase in the number of Leydig cells was observed in the interstitial tissue. Immuno-histochemical examination for Caspase III showed positively stained cells revealing evident apoptosis.
Conclusion: Affection of the seminiferous epithelium following mobile waves’ exposure and the more marked affection observed in the pubertal rats in our study, may be considered as a danger alarm for the widely spread and increasing use of mobile phones among pubertal teenage males. Therefore, further studies regarding this age group in human and the possible protective agents against harmful waves are highly recommended.