Melatonin attenuates radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in germ cells of male Swiss albino mice.
Pandey N, Giri S. · 2018
View Original AbstractCell phone-frequency radiation damaged sperm development and DNA in mice, but melatonin supplementation prevented these reproductive effects.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed male mice to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone signals) for 6 hours daily over 35 days and found significant damage to sperm-producing cells, including DNA damage, reduced sperm count, and abnormal sperm shape. However, when mice also received melatonin supplements, these harmful effects were largely prevented or reversed. This suggests that RF radiation can impair male fertility, but antioxidants like melatonin may offer protection.
Why This Matters
This study adds to mounting evidence that radiofrequency radiation at levels similar to cell phone emissions can damage male reproductive health. The 900 MHz frequency tested here is identical to GSM cell phone signals, making these findings directly relevant to everyday wireless device use. What makes this research particularly compelling is the protective effect of melatonin, which suggests the damage occurs through oxidative stress pathways that can potentially be mitigated. The science demonstrates that RF exposure doesn't just affect sperm count but disrupts the entire process of sperm development, causing DNA damage and cellular dysfunction. While this was an animal study, the biological mechanisms involved are shared across mammalian species, and the exposure duration mirrors chronic daily cell phone use patterns.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: 3 h twice/day for 35 days
Study Details
The present study investigated the effect of RFR Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) type, 900 MHz and melatonin supplementation on germ cell development during spermatogenesis.
Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups. One group received RFR exposure for 3 h twice/day f...
Extensive DNA damage in germ cells of RFR-exposed animals along with arrest in pre-meiotic stages of...
It can be concluded that melatonin inhibits pre-meiotic spermatogenesis arrest in male germ cells through its anti-oxidative potential and ability to improve DNA reparative pathways, leading to normal sperm count and sperm morphology in RFR-exposed animals.
Show BibTeX
@article{n_2018_melatonin_attenuates_radiofrequency_radiation_1696,
author = {Pandey N and Giri S.},
title = {Melatonin attenuates radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in germ cells of male Swiss albino mice.},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1177/0748233718758092},
url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0748233718758092},
}