EFFECTS OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD

ON BOAR SPERM PERMEABILITY

Alita Loveless, PGY 4M. Sellers, L. Welch, S. Prien

Introduction Electromagnetic fields are everywhere

Produced by alternating current

Can affect and possibly damage human tissues by thermal effect and disruption of molecular structure

Questionable links to various medical problems

Previous Experiments Exposure to extremely high EMFs caused a

decrease in semen parameters

Parameters are indicative of cell function

Short-term Effects of EM Fields on Sperm Motility in Culture

010203040506070

0 h 0.5 h 1 h 1.5 h 2 h 2.5 h 3 h

time

Mot

ility

(%)

Control

EMF

P < .001

Short-term Effects of EM Fields on Sperm Forward Progress in Culture

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

4

0 h 0.5 h 1 h 1.5 h 2 h 2.5 h 3 h

time

Forw

ard

Pro

gres

sion

(1

-5 s

cale

)Control

EMF

Questions A way to detect signs of cell damage

before cell function was altered

Mechanism leading to decreased cell function

Theoretically… Long-term depolarization of a cell membrane

when subjected to an EMF

Shift in membrane permeability

Potential effect on osmoregulation and disruption of cell function

Common Lab Equipment Hood 8 mG Centrifuge 36 mG Incubator

Upper shelf 86 mG Middle shelf 32 mG Lower shelf 2 mG

Materials and Methods Porcine semen samples Incubated at 37 degrees Celcius with and

without exposure to an EMF Removed samples, combined them with

fluoroscein Examined the samples under a fluorescent

microscope to determine percentage permeabilized

Results Decreases in standard

semen parameters

Results Effects on path

straightness and linearity

Results Increased cell permeability with EMF exposure

Conclusion Short-term exposure

to an EMF appears to increase sperm permeability and alter cell physiology

Clinical Relevance Assisted Reproductive

Technology labs Environment is critical Could basic equipment

be affecting our success rates?

Resources and Thanks… Thanks to Lisa Welch, Matt Sellers, and Dr.

Prien Previous research: Dr. Naghma Farooqi WHO EMF Project

http://www.who.int/peh-emf/en/