Immunohistochemistric Investigation on Testicular Tissue after Exposure to High-Frequency Electromagnetic Waves in Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

3 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

4 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

5 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, Sadjad University of Technology, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

The increasing concern over the potential health effects of high-frequency electromagnetic waves (HFEMW) emitted from devices such as mobile phones and modems has prompted this study, which aimed to evaluate the impact of HFEMW exposure on rat testicular tissue. Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups and exposed to HFEMW (2100–2600 MHz, 1.5 W/kg) for 70 consecutive days, with daily exposure durations of 0, 15, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. Testicular tissue samples were collected for immunohistochemical assessment. Histological examination revealed that short-term exposure (15 minutes) significantly reduced seminiferous tubule atrophy compared to the control group, whereas prolonged exposure caused progressive degenerative changes and severe histopathological damage to testicular tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated apoptotic cell death, particularly in groups with longer exposure durations. These findings suggest that chronic and prolonged exposure to HFEMW can negatively affect testicular integrity, emphasizing the need for awareness and preventive measures to mitigate potential reproductive health risks.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Veterinary and Comparative Biomedical Research
Volume 3, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 1-8

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