Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure affects fertilization outcome in swine animal model

Modern society continuously exposes the population to electromagnetic radiation, the effects of which on human health, in particular reproduction, are stillunknown. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of acute (1h) exposureof boar spermatozoa to a 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic field(ELF-EMF) on early fertility outcome. The effect of intensities ranging from 0 to2 mT on morpho-functional integrity of capacitated spermatozoa was examined invitro. The oviducts containing or without spermatozoa were then exposed to theminimum in vivo, TD(50,) and maximum intensities determined in vitro, 4h beforeovulation. The effects of ELF-EMF on spermatozoa in terms of early embryodevelopment were evaluated after 12h and 6 days. It was found that in vitroELF-EMF > 0.5 mT induced a progressive acrosome damage, thus compromising theability of spermatozoa to undergo acrosomal reaction after zona pellucidastimulation and reducing the in vitro fertilization outcome. These effects becameevident at 0.75 mT and reached the plateau at 1 mT. Under in vivo conditions, theELF-EMF intensity of 1 mT was able to compromise sperm function, significantlyreducing the fertilization rate. In addition, the exposure of oviducts to fields > or = 0.75 mT in the absence of spermatozoa was able to negatively affect early embryo development. In fact, it was found to cause a slowdown in the embryocleavage. In conclusion, it was demonstrated how and at which intensities ELF-EMFnegatively affect early fertility outcome in a highly predictive animal model.[...