Effects on rat testis of 1.95-GHz W-CDMA for IMT-2000 cellular phones

In recent years concern has arisen whether carrying a cellular phone near the reproductive organs such as the testes may cause dysfunction and particularly decrease in sperm development and production, and thus fertility in men. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of a 1.95 GHz electromagnetic field on testicular function in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Five week old animals were divided into 3 groups of 24 each and a 1.95-GHz wide-band code division multiple access (W-CDMA) signal, which is used for the freedom of mobile multimedia access (FOMA), was employed for whole body exposure for 5 hours per day, 7 days a week for 5 weeks (the period from the age of 5 to 10 weeks, corresponding to reproductive maturation in the rat). Whole-body average specific absorption rates (SAR) for individuals were designed to be 0.4 and 0.08 W/kg respectively. The control group received sham exposure. There were no differences in body weight gain or weights of the testis, epididymis, seminal vesicles, and prostate among the groups. The number of sperm in the testis and epididymis were not decreased in the electromagnetic field (EMF) exposed groups, and, in fact, the testicular sperm count was significantly increased with the 0.4 SAR. Abnormalities of sperm motility or morphology and the histological appearance of seminiferous tubules, including the stage of the spermatogenic cycle, were not observed. Thus, under the present exposure conditions, no testicular toxicity was evident.