Effects of cellular phone emissions on sperm motility in rats

Yan JG, Agresti M, Bruce T, Yan YH, Granlund A, Matloub HS.

Fertil Steril. Jul 10; 2007

[Epub ahead of print]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of cellular phone emissions on rat sperm cells.

DESIGN: Classic experimental.

SETTING: Animal research laboratory.

SUBJECTS: Sixteen 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g.

INTERVENTION(S): Rats in the experimental group were exposed to two 3-hour periods of daily cellular phone emissions for 18 weeks; sperm samples were then collected for evaluation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Evaluation of sperm motility, sperm cell morphology, total sperm cell number, and mRNA levels for two cell surface adhesion proteins.

RESULT(S): Rats exposed to 6 hours of daily cellular phone emissions for 18 weeks exhibited a significantly higher incidence of sperm cell death than control group rats through chi-squared analysis. In addition, abnormal clumping of sperm cells was present in rats exposed to cellular phone emissions and was not present in control group rats. <>CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that carrying cell phones near reproductive organs could negatively affect male fertility.