Rat brain and testicular tissue effects of radiofrequency radiation exposure: Histopathological, DNA damage of brain and qRT-PCR analysis

Abstract

Background: The Background: We evaluate the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on rat brain and testicular tissue using histopathology, comet assay, and real-time quantitative PCR techniques. Materials and Methods: Two equal groups of fourteen rats one for sham-control and the other for exposure (n = seven) were created. For a duration of 14 days, the exposure group (2100 MHz, testicular tissue SAR values of 163 mW/kg for 10 g, brain tissue SAR values of 292 mW/kg on average) was subjected to five hours of exposure per day. Evaluations were conducted on tissue gene expression levels, histopathology, and DNA damage to brain tissue. Results: The histological examination of brain tissue from the exposed group revealed vascular alterations and significant edema (p < 0.05). It was determined that RF radiation-induced much more cellular damage in the exposed group (18.26% tail DNA) than in the control group (4.06% tail DNA). Signs of deterioration in spermatogenic cells in the testicular tissue of the exposed group also changed significantly (p < 0.05). The Bax and bcl-2 genes showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the mRNA level data, whereas the p53 genes showed no significant change (p > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that it may cause some histopathological and cellular damage in brain and testis tissue. © 2024 Novin Medical Radiation Institute. All rights reserved.