Effects of paternal 5G RFR exposure on health of male offspring mice
Zhaowen Z, Ling G, Guiqiang Z, Jiajin L, Tongzhou Q, Jiangyi L, Jing L, Fuli W, Guirong D · 2025
Paternal 5G RFR exposure induced anxiety-like behaviors and impaired sperm quality in F1 males, with no significant effects on depression-like behaviors, cognitive performance, or fertility.
Plain English Summary
Researchers randomly assigned 7-8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice to a sham group or a 4.9 GHz RFR group (16 mice per group) and assessed anxiety, depression, cognition, sperm quality, and fertility in their male offspring. Paternal RFR exposure induced anxiety-like behaviors and impaired sperm quality in the first-generation male offspring. No significant effects were observed on depression-like behaviors, cognitive performance, or fertility across F1-F2 generations.
Why This Matters
The exposed fathers received 4.9 GHz RFR for one hour each day over 42 consecutive days. Male offspring derived from exposed males and unexposed females were raised to adulthood. The researchers also measured methylation, mRNA, and protein levels of the LRGUK gene in paternal testes. The authors concluded that paternal 5G RFR exposure causes intergenerational adverse effects possibly through germ cell epigenetic modifications.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{zhaowen_z_ling_g_guiqiang_z_jiajin_l_tongzhou_q_jiangyi_l_jing_l_fuli_w_guirong_d_ce4736,
author = {Zhaowen Z and Ling G and Guiqiang Z and Jiajin L and Tongzhou Q and Jiangyi L and Jing L and Fuli W and Guirong D},
title = {Effects of paternal 5G RFR exposure on health of male offspring mice},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.109139},
}