Continuous 900-megahertz electromagnetic field applied in middle and late-adolescence causes qualitative and quantitative changes in the ovarian morphology, tissue and blood biochemistry of the rat

The role of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation on female fertility: A review

With increasing technological developments, exposure to non-ionizing radiations has become unavoidable as people cannot escape from electromagnetic field sources, such as Wi-Fi, electric wires, microwave oven, radio, telecommunication, bluetooth devices, etc. These radiations can be associated with increased health problems of the users. This review aims to determine the effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiations on female fertility. To date, several in vitro and in vivo studies unveiled that exposure to non-ionizing radiations brings about harmful effects on oocytes, ovarian follicles, endometrial tissue, estrous cycle, reproductive endocrine hormones, developing embryo, and fetal development in animal models. Non-ionizing radiation also upsurges the free radical load in the uterus and ovary, which leads to inhibition of cell growth and DNA disruptions. In conclusion, non-ionizing electromagnetic radiations can cause alterations in both germ cells as well as in their nourishing environment and also affect other female reproductive parameters that might lead to infertility.

The effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on synthesis and release of steroid hormones by the porcine conceptuses during the peri-implantation period

CONTEXT

Electrical devices and power systems are the sources of EM-waves which propagate everywhere in the environment.

AIMS

The study aimed to determine whether EMF induced changes in the steroidogenesis of conceptuses and whether progesterone (P4 ) may be a possible protectant against the effects of EMF radiation.

METHODS

The entire porcine conceptuses were collected during the peri-implantation period (days 15-16 of pregnancy), divided into fragments (100mg) and treated in vitro with EMF (50Hz or 120Hz, 2 or 4h exposure), and examined to determine of CYP17A1 , HSD3B1 , CYP19A3 , and HSD17B4 mRNA transcript and encoded protein abundance and the release of steroid hormones. Selected fragments of conceptuses were treated with P4 .

KEY RESULTS

In conceptuses incubated without P4 , EMF at 120Hz decreased androstenedione (A4 ) and testosterone (T) release after 2h and increased oestrone (E1 ) release at 50Hz and 120Hz after 4h exposure. In P4 -treated conceptuses, EMF (50 and 120Hz, 4h exposure) decreased CYP19A3 mRNA transcript abundance, and increased (120Hz, 2h exposure) oestradiol-17β (E2 ) release.

CONCLUSIONS

The EMF radiation alters androgen and oestrogen synthesis and release from the conceptuses of pigs during the peri-implantation period. The P4 exerts protective effects on androgens and E1 release but it sensitises the conceptuses when comes to the mechanism of oestrogen synthesis and release during EMF radiation.

IMPLICATIONS

The effect of EMF radiation on the steroidogenic pathway in conceptuses may induce disturbances in their proper development and implantation.

Adverse reproductive function induced by maternal BPA exposure is associated with abnormal autophagy and activating inflamation via mTOR and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways in female offspring rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) can affect reproductive function, but its mechanism of reproductive toxicity is unclear, and the effect of BPA on the onset of puberty was inconsistent. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of perinatal exposure to BPA on the onset of puberty and reproductive function, and its mechanism from the aspect of autophagy and inflammation in ovarian and uterus tissues of female offspring. Twenty-one pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control group, 1 μg/mL BPA (LBPA) and 10 μg/mL BPA group (HBPA) via drinking water from gestational day 6 to the end of lactation. After weaning, female offspring rats were fed a normal diet and drinking water for 5 weeks. The levels of E2, LH, FSH, T, and IL-6 and TNF-α, and the onset of puberty, and morphological changes in ovarian and uterine were determined in female offspring at 8 weeks. The levels of TLR4, NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and autophagy related protein in uterine tissue were also detected. Our results indicated that perinatal exposure to BPA advanced puberty, which was associated with increased serum E2, LH and FSH levels. There was a significantly thin endometrium epithelium in HBPA group compared with control group, which may affect reproductive function. The adverse effect of perinatal BPA exposure on reproductive function maybe was associated with the activation of inflammation and abnormal autophagy via TLR4/NF-κB and mTOR signaling pathways respectively in female offspring.

Consequences of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation during early pregnancy - androgen synthesis and release from the myometrium of pigs in vitro

An electromagnetic field (EMF) has been found to affect reproductive processes in females. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of low, non-ionizing EMF radiation on the steroidogenic activity of myometrium collected from pigs during the fetal peri-implantation period. Myometrial slices were treated with an EMF (50 and 120 Hz, 2 and 4 h of incubation) and examined for the aromatase cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase/C17-20lyase (CYP17A1) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-Δ4 isomerase (HSD3B1) mRNA transcript abundance, cytochrome P450c17 and 3βHSD protein abundance and the secretion of androstenedione (A₄) and testosterone (T). To determine whether progesterone (P₄) functions as a protectant from EMF radiation, the selected slices were treated with P₄. In slices incubated without P₄, EMF at 50 Hz altered cytochrome P450c17 protein abundance (4 h), HSD3B1 mRNA transcript abundance (4 h) and A₄ release (2 h) as well as T release (2 h) in P₄-treated slices. The EMF at 120 Hz in non P₄-treated slices altered A₄ release (2 and 4 h) whereas in P₄-treated slices altered CYP17A1 mRNA transcript abundance (4 h), 3βHSD protein abundance (4 h), A₄ (4 h) and T release (2 h). In conclusion, EMF radiation in the myometrium collected during the peri-implantation period alters the CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 mRNA transcript and encoded protein abundance, and androgen release due to the time of treatment and P₄ presence or absence. The P₄ did not function directly as an obvious protector against EMF radiation in the myometrium of pigs during the fetal peri-implantation period.