Rat brain and testicular tissue effects of radiofrequency radiation exposure: Histopathological, DNA damage of brain and qRT-PCR analysis

Abstract

Overview

We evaluate the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on rat brain and testicular tissue using histopathology, comet assay, and real-time quantitative PCR techniques.

Materials and Methods

• Two equal groups of fourteen rats one for sham-control and the other for exposure (n = seven) were created.
• For a duration of 14 days, the exposure group (2100 MHz, testicular tissue SAR values of 163 mW/kg for 10 g, brain tissue SAR values of 292 mW/ kg on average) was subjected to five hours of exposure per day.
• Evaluations were conducted on tissue gene expression levels, histopathology, and DNA damage to brain tissue.

Results

The histological examination of brain tissue from the exposed group revealed vascular alterations and significant edema (p < 0.05). It was determined that RF radiation-induced much more cellular damage in the exposed group (18.26% tail DNA) than in the control group (4.06% tail DNA). Signs of deterioration in spermatogenic cells in the testicular tissue of the exposed group also changed significantly (p < 0.05). The Bax and bcl-2 genes showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the mRNA level data, whereas the p53 genes showed no significant change (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that it may cause some histopathological and cellular damage in brain and testis tissue.