The Effects Of Acute,Short-term Microwave Radiation On Reproductive System Of Male Rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of acute short-term microwave radiation of different Mean Power Densities(MPD) on the plasmatic concentrations of Follicular Stimulation Hormone(FSH) and Inhibin B(INHB), the morphology of testis, the expression levels of Follicular Stimulation Hormone Receptor(FSHR) and INHB in the wall of seminiferous tubules, the apoptosis of differential spermatogenic cells of seminiferous tubules in the adult male SD rats in order to provide theory to protect hazards from microwave radiation.Methods: 36 adult male rats were divided equally into 4 groups(group A,B,C,D) receiving acute short- term microwave radiation of MPD at 0、30、60、90mW/cm2 respectively of 5min. 24 h after radiation, blood were extracted from inferior vena cave and the double testes were removed. The Elisa(IM) procedures were used to detect the blood concentrations of FSH and INHB. The testes were sliced to do Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE) staining, the immunohistochemistry(IM) assay, and apoptosis detection. The diameters and heights of seminiferous tubules, the numbers of sperm were observed by microscope. The Image-plus(6.0) software was utilized to analyze the Mean Optical Value(MPD) of IM pictures. The apoptosis of differential spermatogenic cells was experienced by Tunel method. Different statistical methods were adapted to analyze the results up to the properties of data.Results: For morphology results(diameter, height of seminiferous tubules and number of sperm in tubules lumen), no difference was observed among the exposure groups and the control group. There was no difference between each of the exposure groups and the control group, even among the three exposure groups for plasmatic concentration of FSH(P>0.05) while the concentration of INHB was decreased in all the exposure groups with significant difference in group D(P<0.05). At the same time, the expression of INHB in testes was declined obviously in exposure groups when compared to the control group(P<0.05), but the expression of FSHR was observed at the same level(P>0.05). The apoptosis in the three groups was significantly increased compared to the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion: The acute short-term microwave radiation induces no change of morphology of seminiferous tubules and no significant difference was observed about the expression of FSHR in testis, but could decrease the plasmatic concentration of INHB when the MPD was as high as 90 mW/cm2 and reduce the expression of INHB in testis among all the exposure groups. Otherwise, the concentration of FSH was not affected. Meanwhile, the apoptosis of differential spermatogenenic cells were all increased obviously.