The present study aimed to elucidate the potential adverse effects of magnetic fields (MFs) exposure on the testis of mice. Significant decreases in body weight gain and testis weight were recorded in adult males that exposed to 10 mT alternate current (AC) or direct current (DC) MFs 8h/d for 6 successive weeks. Moreover, the inactive seminiferous tubules of exposed males were markedly increased, associated with missing of both spermatids and sperms, in addition to increasing of abnormal sperm head and tail shapes. Moreover, Sertoli cells were also degenerated. Some histopathological changes accompanied with significant increase in cell apoptosis were detected in the testicular germ cells of exposed mice. A significant inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was observed after exposure to MFs compared with control group. However, a daily intraperitoneally injection (i.p.) with antioxidant L-Ascorbic acid (100 µm) during the exposure period abolish the adverse effects of MFs. The study indicated that MFs exposure exerts some adverse effects on reproductive capacity of mice in the absence of VEGF and free radical scavenger.
Key words: Magnetic fields (MFs), L-Ascorbic acid, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), testis, mice.
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