Özgen Meltem, Take Gülnur, Kaplanoğlu İskender, Erdoğan Deniz, Seymen Cemile Merve
Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Ankara, Turkey.
Sağlık Bilimleri University, Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women's Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Center of Assisted Reproduction, Ankara, Turkey.
Rev Int Androl. 2023 Oct-Dec;21(4):100371. doi: 10.1016/j.androl.2023.100371. Epub 2023 Jul 4.
Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) are one of the risk factors for male reproductive health and melatonin can be an ideal candidate for therapeutic development against RF-induced male fertility problems due to its antioxidant properties. The possible therapeutic role of melatonin in the destructive effects of 2100MHz RF radiation on rat sperm characteristics is investigated in the present study.
Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups and the experiment continued for ninety consecutive days; Control, Melatonin (10mg/kg, subcutaneously), RF (2100MHz, thirty minutes per day, whole-body), and RF+Melatonin groups. Left caudal epididymis and ductus deferens tissues were placed in sperm wash solution (at 37°C) and dissected. The sperms were counted and stained. Measurements of the perinuclear ring of the manchette and posterior portion of the nucleus (ARC) were performed and the sperms were examined at an ultrastructural level. All of the parameters were evaluated statistically.
The percentages of abnormal sperm morphology were significantly increased with RF exposure, while the total sperm count was significantly decreased. RF exposure also showed harmful effects on acrosome, axoneme, mitochondrial sheath, and outer dense fibers at the ultrastructural level. The number of total sperms, sperms with normal morphology increased, and ultrastructural appearance returned to normal by melatonin administration.
The data showed that melatonin may be a beneficial therapeutic agent for long-term exposure of 2100MHz RF radiation-related reproductive impairments.
射频电磁场（RF-EMFs）是男性生殖健康的风险因素之一，褪黑素因其抗氧化特性，可能是针对射频引起的男性生育问题进行治疗开发的理想候选物。本研究调查了褪黑素在2100MHz射频辐射对大鼠精子特性的破坏作用中可能的治疗作用。
将Wistar白化大鼠分为四组，实验持续90天；对照组、褪黑素组（10mg/kg，皮下注射）、射频组（2100MHz，每天30分钟，全身照射）和射频+褪黑素组。将左侧附睾尾和输精管组织置于精子洗涤液（37°C）中并进行解剖。对精子进行计数和染色。测量精子环的核周环和细胞核后部（ARC），并在超微结构水平上检查精子。所有参数均进行统计学评估。
射频暴露后，异常精子形态的百分比显著增加，而精子总数显著减少。射频暴露在超微结构水平上也对顶体、轴丝、线粒体鞘和外致密纤维显示出有害影响。通过给予褪黑素，精子总数、形态正常的精子数量增加，超微结构外观恢复正常。
数据表明，褪黑素可能是一种有益的治疗剂，用于治疗长期暴露于2100MHz射频辐射相关的生殖损伤。
