Male Reproductive and Cellular Damage After Prenatal 3.5 GHz Radiation Exposure: One-Year Postnatal Effects

Authors: Dolanbay EG, Mert T, Bender GC, Bektas H, Uslu U, Fernandez-Rodriguez CE, Dasdag S

Year: 2025-10-23

Category: Reproductive Toxicology

Journal: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1111/nyas.70116

URL: https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.70116

Abstract

Overview

This study investigates the long-term effects of prenatal exposure to 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation (RFR) on male reproductive health. Pregnant Wistar Hannover rats were divided into sham control, full-gestation exposure (3T RFR), and late-gestation exposure (2T RFR) groups (2 hours/day). Male offspring were euthanized at 12 months for testicular analysis.

Findings

  • Seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelial height were significantly reduced in the 3T RFR group compared to controls (adjusted p = 0.03 and 9.71 × 10-8).
  • Lower Johnsen scores indicated impaired spermatogenesis (adjusted p = 0.022).
  • Abnormal sperm morphology increased significantly (adjusted p = 0.036).
  • γ-H2AX immunostaining scores were elevated in the 2T and 3T groups, indicating increased DNA damage (adjusted p = 0.012 and 6.36 × 10-9).
  • Beclin-1 expression was significantly higher in the 3T group, suggesting increased autophagy (adjusted p = 8.55 × 10-4 and 4.51 × 10-6).
  • TUNEL-positive cell counts and apoptosis index were both significantly higher in RFR-exposed groups than in sham controls (adjusted p values showed extremely strong significance).

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that prenatal exposure to 3.5 GHz RFR causes persistent testicular damage, impaired spermatogenesis, increased DNA damage, autophagy, and apoptosis in adult male rats. Importantly, these adverse health effects were evident even though the rats had no postnatal EMR exposure for a year. Full gestation exposure had the most pronounced effects.

These findings reveal a clear link between prenatal EMF exposure and later-life reproductive toxicity. Additional molecular and cellular studies are necessary to further elucidate mechanisms and reinforce evidence-based guidelines for EMF safety. Considering the widespread use of 3.5 GHz RFR (such as from mobile phones), precautionary actions to protect reproductive health are strongly recommended.

Limitations: Sperm motility and organ weights were not measured in this study. Future research will address these parameters and assess additional time points post-exposure.

Such ongoing research is critical for safeguarding human and animal reproductive health against electromagnetic field exposure.

radiofrequency radiation prenatal exposure reproductive toxicity testicular damage apoptosis DNA damage EMF safety
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