The effects of microwave emitted by cellular phones on ovarian follicles in rats

Gul A, Celebi H, U?ra? S

Arch Gynecol Obstet. Feb 25 2009

[Epub ahead of print] Ê

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there were any toxic effects of microwaves of cellular phones on ovaries in rats.

METHODS: In this study, 82 female pups of rats, aged 21 days (43 in the study group and 39 in the control group) were used. Pregnant rats in the study group were exposed to mobile phones that were placed beneath the polypropylene cages during the whole period of pregnancy. The cage was free from all kinds of materials, which could affect electromagnetic fields.

A mobile phone in a standby position for 11 h and 45 min was turned on to speech position for 15 min every 12 h and the battery was charged continuously. On the 21st day after the delivery, the female rat pups were killed and the right ovaries were removed. The volumes of the ovaries were measured and the number of follicles in every tenth section was counted.

RESULTS: The analysis revealed that in the study group, the number of follicles was lower than that in the control group. The decreased number of follicles in pups exposed to mobile phone microwaves suggest that intrauterine exposure has toxic effects on ovaries.

CONCLUSION: We suggest that the microwaves of mobile phones might decrease the number of follicles in rats by several known and, no doubt, countless unknown mechanisms.