Influence of Chronic Exposure to
High-Frequency Electromagnetic
Fields on Fertility and
Development in vivo (Project 8)
Alexander Lerchl
Jacobs University Bremen
Background
• So far, only limited data are available with
respect to long-term effects of exposure to
electromagnetic fields on laboratory
animals.
• Especially, fertility and developmental
effects need to be investigated over
extended periods of time (multiple
generations).
Experimental Design
• SAR values: 0 (sham), 0.08, 0.4, and
1.3 W kg-1
• Blinded design
• n = 32 pairs of mice (C57Bl; 1 male + 2
females) per generation and SAR value
• 4 generations (F0 – F3)
• Exposure 24 hrs / day, life long exposure
Experimental Design
• F0 generation exposed (1 male + 2 females)
• From the offspring of these animals, the F1
animals were recruited.
• From the offspring of these animals, the F2
animals were recruited.
• From the offspring of these animals, the F3
animals were recruited.
• The experiment was terminated a few days
prior to delivery of the F3 dams.
Endpoints
• Body weight (regularly)
• Males: sperm count, malformed sperm
• Females: litter size, uteri weights, corpora
lutea, implantation sites, resorptions
• Pups: body weight, time point of eye
opening, reflex tests, survival rates
Exposure Units
4 identical units with 32
(2 x 16) cages
Exposure Units
Absorber
Homogeneous Exposure
1,2
Measurement results
Cage area
1,0
0,8
0,6
sin-Curve
(Metal walls)
0,4
Measuring points
0,2
0,0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Results: Wrong Strain?
• During the course of the experiment it
turned out that the C57Bl mice have a high
number of pups per litter (which is in
agreement with statements from the
company), but the number of surviving
pups is extremely low.
• Therefore, a second pregnancy had to
included.
Results: Testis Morphology
Sperm per tubule ± SEM
Sperm Count
125
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
n.s. for Units
100
75
50
25
0
F0
F1
F2
F3
Malformed sperm per tubule ± SEM
Results: Testis Morphology
Malformed Sperm Count
7.5
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
n.s. for Units
5.0
2.5
0.0
F0
F1
F2
F3
Corpora Lutea per Ovary ± SEM
Results: Corpora Lutea
Corpora Lutea
n.s. for Units
8
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
F0
F1
F2
Results: Litter Size
Litter Size
n.s. for Units
Litter size ± SEM
8
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
F0
F1
F2
Water Consumption (g/g animal) ± SEM
Results: Water Consumption
Water Consumption
p < 0.001 for Units
0.25
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
F0
F1
F2
F3
Food Consumption (g/g animal) ± SEM
Results: Food Consumption
Food Consumption
p < 0.001 for Units
0.2
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
0.1
0.0
F0
F1
F2
F3
Results: Males’ Body Weight
Male Body Weight
p<0.05 for Units
Body weight ± SEM
40
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
30
20
10
0
F0
F1
F2
F3
Preliminary Conclusions
• Apparently, there are no consistent or
strong effects of UMTS exposure on
fertility or fertility-related parameters.
• Effects may exist with respect to food and
water consumption and body weight, thus
consistent with previous reports.
• Final data analysis will reveal possible
dose-response relationships (the code will
be broken in a few weeks).
Acknowledgements
• Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, Dr. Asmuß
• University of Wuppertal, Chair of
Electromagnetic Theory (Prof. Hansen)
• Karen Grote, Thomas Ströhlein, Dr.
Angela Sommer, Dr. Kirstin Schwarzpaul,
Tatiana Simon (all Jacobs University)
Questions?