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Effects of microwaves (950 MHZ mobile phone) on morphometric and apoptotic changes of rabbit epididymis.

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Azadi Oskouyi E, Rajaei F, Safari Variani A, Sarokhani MR, Javadi A. · 2014

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Mobile phone-frequency radiation damaged male reproductive tissue in rabbits after just two weeks of exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed male rabbits to 950 MHz microwave radiation (similar to older mobile phone frequencies) for 2 hours daily over 2 weeks. They found that the radiation caused significant damage to the epididymis (part of the male reproductive system), including tissue shrinkage, reduced testosterone levels at higher power, and increased cell death. This suggests that microwave radiation from mobile devices could potentially harm male fertility.

Why This Matters

This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that radiofrequency radiation affects male reproductive health. The 950 MHz frequency used here is close to frequencies still used by some mobile networks today, making these findings directly relevant to current technology. What's particularly concerning is that damage occurred at both power levels tested, with more severe effects at higher power. The epididymis plays a crucial role in sperm maturation, so the structural damage and increased cell death observed here could translate to fertility problems. While this was an animal study, similar mechanisms exist in humans, and the results align with epidemiological studies showing reduced sperm quality in men who carry phones near their bodies.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 950 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 950 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 950 MHz Duration: 2 weeks, 2 h a day.

Study Details

The aim of this study is to oberve Effects of microwaves (950 MHZ mobile phone) on morphometric and apoptotic changes of rabbit epididymis.

In this study, 18 male rabbits were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control gr...

The epithelial height and diameter of the epididymis in 3 watt and 6 watt groups had a significant d...

This study showed that the microwaves with the frequency of 950 MHz can have negative impacts on morphometric and apoptotic changes of rabbit epididymis.

Cite This Study
Azadi Oskouyi E, Rajaei F, Safari Variani A, Sarokhani MR, Javadi A. (2014). Effects of microwaves (950 MHZ mobile phone) on morphometric and apoptotic changes of rabbit epididymis. Andrologia. 2014 Jul 25. doi: 10.1111/and.12321.
Show BibTeX
@article{e_2014_effects_of_microwaves_950_1862,
  author = {Azadi Oskouyi E and Rajaei F and Safari Variani A and Sarokhani MR and Javadi A.},
  title = {Effects of microwaves (950 MHZ mobile phone) on morphometric and apoptotic changes of rabbit epididymis.},
  year = {2014},
  
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/25060044},
}
PubMed: 25060044

Cited By (11 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2014 study found that 950 MHz microwave radiation significantly damaged rabbit epididymis tissue. Two weeks of 2-hour daily exposure caused tissue shrinkage and reduced diameter at both 3-watt and 6-watt power levels, with the higher power also triggering increased cell death.
Research shows that 6-watt 950 MHz microwave radiation significantly decreased testosterone levels in male rabbits after 14 days of exposure. However, the 3-watt exposure level did not affect testosterone, suggesting power level determines hormonal impact in this frequency range.
A rabbit study revealed that 950 MHz radiation causes epididymis epithelial cells to shrink and die. The epithelial height and diameter decreased significantly at both 3-watt and 6-watt power levels, with the higher power triggering substantial cell death through apoptosis.
Significant reproductive tissue damage occurred after just 2 weeks of daily 950 MHz radiation exposure in rabbits. The study used 2-hour daily sessions, demonstrating that relatively short-term exposure to this older mobile phone frequency can cause measurable biological harm.
Six-watt 950 MHz radiation proved more harmful than 3-watt exposure in rabbit studies. While both power levels caused tissue shrinkage, only the 6-watt level reduced testosterone and triggered significant cell death in the epididymis, indicating a dose-response relationship.