Detrimental effects of electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phone on embryo morphokinetics and blastocyst viability in mice
Abstract
Overview
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) produced by cell phones has been shown to have harmful impacts on reproductive health, specifically affecting sperm motility, viability, and oocyte membrane and organelle integrity. This study aims to determine the impact of EMR from cell phones on preimplantation embryo development (morphokinetics) and blastocyst viability in mice.
Methods
- 20 female mice superovulated using standard gonadotropin protocols.
- Zygotes divided into control (n=150) and experimental (n=150) groups.
- Experimental group exposed to cell phone EMR (900-1800 MHz) for 30 minutes on day 1.
- Embryos cultured in a time-lapse system, monitored from 2-cell stage to hatched blastocyst, with annotation of cleavage patterns and viability assessment via staining.
Findings
- Significantly increased cleavage division times (t2, t8, t10, t12) were found in the experimental group (P < 0.05).
- Delay in embryo development was noted in the experimental group relative to controls.
- Statistically significant difference in s3 time interval between groups (P < 0.05).
- Experimental group exhibited higher rates of fragmentation, reverse cleavage, vacuole formation, and embryo arrest (P < 0.05).
- Cell survival rate was lower in embryos exposed to EMR (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Exposure to EMR from cell phones led to marked detrimental effects on preimplantation embryo development in mice, including abnormal cleavage patterns, impaired blastocyst formation, and reduced cell viability. This study provides scientific evidence linking electromagnetic field exposure to reproductive harm, underscoring EMF as a health risk.