[Effect of microwave radiation on primary cultured Sertoli cells.]
Gao XF, Wang SM, Peng RY, Wang LF, Zuo HY, Gao YB, Dong Q, Dong B. · 2009
View Original AbstractMicrowave radiation at 100 mW/cm² disrupted and killed Sertoli cells essential for sperm production, suggesting EMF exposure may harm male fertility.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed Sertoli cells (crucial cells that support sperm production in the testicles) to microwave radiation at different power levels for five minutes. They found that higher intensity radiation (100 mW/cm²) disrupted normal cell division, increased cell death, and caused calcium levels inside cells to spike. This suggests that microwave radiation can damage the cells essential for male fertility.
Why This Matters
This study provides direct evidence that microwave radiation can damage Sertoli cells, which are essential for healthy sperm production and male fertility. The 100 mW/cm² exposure level that caused significant cellular damage is well within the range of occupational exposures and some consumer devices. What makes this research particularly concerning is that Sertoli cells form the blood-testis barrier and nurture developing sperm - damage to these cells could have lasting effects on male reproductive health. The study's finding that calcium levels increased inside damaged cells also points to a specific biological mechanism by which EMF exposure disrupts cellular function. While this was laboratory research on isolated cells, it adds to a growing body of evidence linking EMF exposure to male fertility problems, including declining sperm quality observed in population studies worldwide.
Exposure Details
- Power Density
- 0, 30 and 100 µW/m²
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
To explore whether microwave radiation may cause injury of primary cultured Sertoli cells.
The model of primary cultured Sertoli cells in vitro was established, which was radiated by microwav...
The numbers of Sertoli cells were obviously reduced in G0-G1 and G2-M phase (62.57% +/- 3.22% and 8....
100 mW/cm(2) microwave radiation may cause growth inhibition and increase of apoptosis and death in the primary cultured Sertoli cells. The increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration is one of the injury mechanisms.
Show BibTeX
@article{xf_2009_effect_of_microwave_radiation_989,
author = {Gao XF and Wang SM and Peng RY and Wang LF and Zuo HY and Gao YB and Dong Q and Dong B.},
title = {[Effect of microwave radiation on primary cultured Sertoli cells.]},
year = {2009},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20137297/},
}