Male Reproduction Archives - EMFSA

Effect of Radiation Emitted by Wireless Devices on Male Reproductive Hormones: A Systematic Review

Editor — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 06:28:07 +0000

Maluin SM, Osman K, Jaffar FHF and Ibrahim SF (2021) Effect of Radiation Emitted by Wireless Devices on Male Reproductive Hormones: A Systematic Review. Front. Physiol. 12:732420.doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.732420

Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from various wireless devices has increased dramatically with the advancement of technology. One of the most vulnerable organs to the RF-EMR is the testes. This is due to the fact that testicular tissues are more susceptible to oxidative stress due to a high rate of cell division and mitochondrial oxygen consumption. As a result of extensive cell proliferation, replication errors occur, resulting in DNA fragmentation in the sperm. While high oxygen consumption increases the level of oxidative phosphorylation by-products (free radicals) in the mitochondria. Furthermore, due to its inability to effectively dissipate excess heat, testes are also susceptible to thermal effects from RF-EMR exposure. As a result, people are concerned about its impact on male reproductive function. The aim of this article was to conduct a review of literature on the effects of RF-EMR emitted by wireless devices on male reproductive hormones in experimental animals and humans. According to the findings of the studies, RF-EMR emitted by mobile phones and Wi-Fi devices can cause testosterone reduction. However, the effect on gonadotrophic hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone) is inconclusive. These findings were influenced by several factors, which can influence energy absorption and the biological effect of RF-EMR. The effect of RF-EMR in the majority of animal and human studies appeared to be related to the duration of mobile phone use. Thus, limiting the use of wireless devices is recommended.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.732420/full

The post Effect of Radiation Emitted by Wireless Devices on Male Reproductive Hormones: A Systematic Review appeared first on EMFSA.

Environmental Factors-Induced Oxidative Stress: Hormonal and Molecular Pathway Disruptions in Hypogonadism and Erectile Dysfunction

Editor — Mon, 24 May 2021 18:29:58 +0000

Environmental Factors-Induced Oxidative Stress: Hormonal and Molecular Pathway Disruptions in Hypogonadism and Erectile Dysfunction

Abstract

Hypogonadism is an endocrine disorder characterized by inadequate serum testosterone production by the Leydig cells of the testis. It is triggered by alterations in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is another common disorder in men that involves an alteration in erectile response–organic, relational, or psychological. The incidence of hypogonadism and ED is common in men aged over 40 years. Hypogonadism (including late-onset hypogonadism) and ED may be linked to several environmental factors-induced oxidative stresses. The factors mainly include exposure to pesticides, radiation, air pollution, heavy metals and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These environmental risk factors may induce oxidative stress and lead to hormonal dysfunctions. To better understand the subject, the study used many keywords, including “hypogonadism”, “late-onset hypogonadism”, “testosterone”, “erectile dysfunction”, “reactive oxygen species”, “oxidative stress”, and “environmental pollution” in major online databases, such as SCOPUS and PUBMED to extract relevant scientific information. Based on these parameters, this review summarizes a comprehensive insight into the important environmental issues that may have a direct or indirect association with hypogonadism and ED in men. The study concludes that environmental factors-induced oxidative stress may cause infertility in men. The hypothesis and outcomes were reviewed critically, and the mechanistic approaches are applied through oxidant-sensitive pathways. This study also provides recommendations on future therapeutic interventions and protective measures against such adverse environmental factors-induced hypogonadism and ED.

Extract

7. Conclusions

Proper functioning of the HPG axis is crucial for reproductive wellbeing. It is regulated by a complex interplay of neural, hormonal and metabolic signals, which may be disrupted by age-related hormone deficiency and environmental toxicants, including pesticides, radiations, air pollutants and plastic-originated agents and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals induced oxidative stress [44]. These disturbances may lead to impaired sexual potency, eventually causing disruption of psychological health in affected males. These environmental issues that may remain cryptic at times may become major mediators in the etiological context of LOH [80]. In conclusion, the present review attempts to identify the important environmental issues that may have a direct or indirect association with clinical hypogonadism and ED in men. The review also aims to incorporate the important environmental factors, such as pesticides, radiations, air pollution, plastic-originated agents, and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals, into the routine workup algorithm of clinicians to manage such patients, who may benefit.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012994000165

The post Environmental Factors-Induced Oxidative Stress: Hormonal and Molecular Pathway Disruptions in Hypogonadism and Erectile Dysfunction appeared first on EMFSA.

Adverse Effects of Circadian Desynchrony on the Male Reproductive System: An Epidemiological and Experimental Study

Editor — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 11:56:48 +0000

Liu K, Hou G, Wang X, et al. Adverse effects of circadian desynchrony on the male reproductive system: an epidemiological and experimental study [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jul 3]. Hum Reprod. 2020;deaa101. doi:10.1093/humrep/deaa101

Abstract

Study question: Is circadian desynchrony a risk factor of male reproductive damage in semen parameters and/or reproductive hormones?

Summary answer: Circadian desynchrony correlates with decrease of sperm count, which was improved when circadian desynchrony was attenuated.

What is known already: Circadian desynchrony caused by work (shift work) and non-work-related reasons is prevalent worldwide and has been found to be associated with decreased female fertility, but whether it harms male reproductive health is unclear.

Extract:

Limitations, reasons for caution: The study of human beings was observational while the animal study has potential difference in circadian desynchrony exposure and species susceptibility. Further researches are needed to clarify the causal relationship in men.

Wider implications of the findings: These findings provide novel insight to the effect of circadian desynchrony on male reproductive health and a potential strategy for prevention of reproductive damage.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32619235/

The post Adverse Effects of Circadian Desynchrony on the Male Reproductive System: An Epidemiological and Experimental Study appeared first on EMFSA.

Whole-body exposures to radiofrequency-electromagnetic energy can cause DNA damage in mouse spermatozoa via an oxidative mechanism

Editor — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 22:14:14 +0000

Houston, B.J., Nixon, B., McEwan, K.E. et al. Whole-body exposures to radiofrequency-electromagnetic energy can cause DNA damage in mouse spermatozoa via an oxidative mechanism. Sci Rep 9, 17478 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41598-019-53983-9

Abstract

Artificially generated radiofrequency-electromagnetic energy (RF-EME) is now ubiquitous in our environment owing to the utilization of mobile phone and Wi-Fi based communication devices. While several studies have revealed that RF-EME is capable of eliciting biological stress, particularly in the context of the male reproductive system, the mechanistic basis of this biophysical interaction remains largely unresolved. To extend these studies, here we exposed unrestrained male mice to RF-EME generated via a dedicated waveguide (905 MHz, 2.2 W/kg) for 12 h per day for a period of 1, 3 or 5 weeks. The testes of exposed mice exhibited no evidence of gross histological change or elevated stress, irrespective of the RF-EME exposure regimen. By contrast, 5 weeks of RF-EME exposure adversely impacted the vitality and motility profiles of mature epididymal spermatozoa. These spermatozoa also experienced increased mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species after 1 week of exposure, with elevated DNA oxidation and fragmentation across all exposure periods. Notwithstanding these lesions, RF-EME exposure did not impair the fertilization competence of spermatozoa nor their ability to support early embryonic development. This study supports the utility of male germ cells as sensitive tools with which to assess the biological impacts of whole-body RF-EME exposure.

Summary

In summary, our evidence supports the hypothesis that sustained whole-body RF-EME is capable of inducing a state of oxidative stress in the male germ line, a cell vulnerable to the effects of ROS. Furthermore, our data further implicate the mitochondria as the target for RF-EME biophysical interaction, with a consequential elevation of mitochondrial ROS generation being linked to reduced motility and elevated oxidative DNA damage and DNA fragmentation in the spermatozoa of exposed males. Whilst these lesions were not sufficient to compromise fertilization competence or early embryo development, it will nonetheless be of interest to investigate the transgenerational influence of whole-body RF-EME in future studies.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-53983-9

The post Whole-body exposures to radiofrequency-electromagnetic energy can cause DNA damage in mouse spermatozoa via an oxidative mechanism appeared first on EMFSA.

Long-term exposure to 4G smartphone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation diminished male reproductive potential by directly disrupting Spock3–MMP2-BTB axis in the testes of adult rats

Editor — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 15:29:15 +0000

Gang Yu, Zeping Tang, Hui Chen, Zhiyuan Chen, Lei Wang, Hui Cao, Gang Wang, Jiansheng Xing, Haotao Shen, Qing Cheng, Donghui Li, Guoren Wang, Yang Xiang, Yupeng Guan, Yabing Zhu, Zhenxiang Liu, Zhiming Bai,
Long-term exposure to 4G smartphone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation diminished male reproductive potential by directly disrupting Spock3–MMP2-BTB axis in the testes of adult rats, Science of The Total Environment,
Volume 698, 2020, 133860, ISSN 0048-9697,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133860.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719338082)

Abstract

The correlation between long-term exposure to SRF-EMR and the decline in male fertility is gradually receiving increasing attention from the medical society. While male reproductive organs are often exposed to SRF-EMR, little is currently known about the direct effects of long-term SRF-EMR exposure on the testes and its involvement in the suppression of male reproductive potential. The present study was designed to investigate this issue by using 4G SRF-EMR in rats. A unique exposure model using a 4G smartphone achieved localized exposure to the scrotum of the rats for 6 h each day (the smartphone was kept on active talk mode and received an external call for 1 min over 10 min intervals). Results showed that SRF-EMR exposure for 150 days decreased sperm quality and pup weight, accompanied by testicular injury. However, these adverse effects were not evident in rats exposed to SRF-EMR for 50 days or 100 days. Sequencing analysis and western blotting suggested Spock3 overexpression in the testes of rats exposed to SRF-EMR for 150 days. Inhibition of Spock3 overexpression improved sperm quality decline and alleviated testicular injury and BTB disorder in the exposed rats. Additionally, SRF-EMR exposure suppressed MMP2 activity, while increasing the activity of the MMP14–Spock3 complexes and decreasing MMP14–MMP2 complexes; these results were reversed by Spock3 inhibition. Thus, long-term exposure to 4G SRF-EMR diminished male fertility by directly disrupting the Spock3–MMP2–BTB axis in the testes of adult rats. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show direct toxicity of SRF-EMR on the testes emerging after long-term exposure.

From the discussion:

“men are advised to keep smartphones away from their testes to avoid potential adverse effects of this neglected low-energy radiation. Given the limitations of this study, additional studies on SRF-EMR with increased exposure duration and different working models of smartphones should be conducted to further confirm the current conclusion along with investigating additional reproductive effects of SRF-EMR. Furthermore, SRF-EMR belongs to RF-EMR, which is emitted by other sources common in daily life such as phone towers and electric substations. Now that the adverse effects of long-term SRF-EMR exposure have been presented, future studies should pay more attention to the long-term health effects of other RF-EMRs with higher energy. These health effects may prove more important in the upcoming 5G era, when more RF-EMRs would be brought into our daily life.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969719338082?via%3Dihub

The post Long-term exposure to 4G smartphone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation diminished male reproductive potential by directly disrupting Spock3–MMP2-BTB axis in the testes of adult rats appeared first on EMFSA.

BERENIS – The Swiss expert group on electromagnetic fields and non-ionising radiation Newsletter Nr. 17 / June 2019

Editor — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 19:29:54 +0000

Note: These newsletters were prepared under contract to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). The Swiss expert group on electromagnetic fields and non-ionising radiation (BERENIS) bears sole responsibility for the content.

The newsletters can be viewed at this link:

https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home/topics/electrosmog/newsletter-of-the-swiss-expert-group-on-electromagnetic-fields-a.html?fbclid=IwAR0BpFptup-hltDaCDDZAPEUnSXEXh3rw6Fi4cCdOk8kwYiclAkV7VQUDq8

Newsletter Nr. 17 / June 2019:

Summaries and assessments of selected studies
In the period from early August to early November 2018, 120 new publications have been identified, and 14 of these were discussed in depth by BERENIS. Based on the selection criteria, five of these publications were selected as the most relevant ones.

1) Experimental animal and cell studies

Impacts of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the male reproductive system (Houston et al.
2018)

Mechanistic investigation of the influence of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on fundamental
cellular signal cascades (Wu et al. 2018)

Extremely low frequency magnetic fields, cryptochrome and reactive oxygen species (Sherrard et al.
2018)

Spontaneous electric activity of neuronal cells is reduced after RF-EMF (1800 MHz) exposure (El
Khoueiry et al. 2018)

2) Epidemiological studies

RF-EMF and behavioural problems in 5-year old children (Guxens et al. 2018)

The post BERENIS – The Swiss expert group on electromagnetic fields and non-ionising radiation Newsletter Nr. 17 / June 2019 appeared first on EMFSA.