Evaluation of spermatogenesis and fertility in F1 male rats after in utero and neonatal exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

Aim: To determine whether in utero and neonatal exposure to a 60 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) results in spermatotoxicity and reproductive dysfunction in the F1 offspring of rats. Methods: Age-matched, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed continuously (21 h/day) to a 60 Hz EMF at field strengths of 0 (sham control), 5, 83.3 or 500 μT from day 6 of gestation through to day 21 of lactation. The experimentally generated magnetic field was monitored continuously (uninterrupted monitoring over the period of the study) throughout the study. Results: No exposure-related changes were found in exposed or sham-exposed animals with respect to the anogenital distance, preputial separation, testis weight, testicular histology, sperm count, daily sperm production, sperm motility, sperm morphology and reproductive capacity of F1 offspring. Conclusion: Exposure of Sprague-Dawley rats to a 60 Hz EMF at field strengths of up to 500 μT from day 6 of gestation to day 21 of lactation did not produce any detectable alterations in offspring spermatogenesis and fertility.