The present study investigates the effect of
free radical formation due to mobile phone exposure and effect on fertility pattern in 70-day-old male Wistar rats (
sham exposed and exposed). Exposure took place in
Plexiglas cages for 2 h a day for 35 days to mobile phone frequency. The specific absorption rate was estimated to be 0.9 W/kg. An analysis of
antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.001) and
superoxide dismutase (P < 0.007) showed a decrease, while an increase in
catalase (P < 0.005) was observed.
Malondialdehyde (P < 0.003) showed an increase and
histone kinase (P = 0.006) showed a significant decrease in the exposed group. Micronuclei also show a significant decrease (P < 0.002) in the exposed group. A significant change in sperm cell cycle of G(0)-G(1) (P = 0.042) and G(2)/M (P = 0.022) were recorded. Generation of
free radicals was recorded to be significantly increased (P = 0.035). Our findings on
antioxidant,
malondialdehyde,
histone kinase, micronuclei, and sperm cell cycle are clear indications of an
infertility pattern, initiated due to an overproduction of
reactive oxygen species. It is concluded that radiofrequency electromagnetic wave from commercially available cell phones might affect the fertilizing potential of spermatozoa.