Effects of exposure to static magnetic fields on the morphology and morphometry of mouse epididymal sperm

Abstract

Morphologic and morphometric sperm characteristics of mouse epididymal extracts from animals exposed to static magnetic fields were evaluated. For this purpose, animals were exposed for 35 days to a field of 0.7 T generated by a commercial permanent magnet for either 1 or 24 h per day. The values of morphometric parameters were obtained using the morphometric module of the Sperm Class Analyzer® computerized image analysis system, and percentages of abnormalities were calculated. The size of sperm heads was unaffected by exposure to static magnetic fields. Lack of hook was a sperm head abnormality found significantly more frequently in animals exposed continually than in nonexposed animals, showing a possible alteration to the spermatogenic process after exposure to static magnetic fields. The percentage of sperm with coiled tails or of sperm with abnormal midpiece or tail was not altered by exposure. Bioelectromagnetics 19:377–383, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Computer assisted sperm morphometry in mammals: A review

“…There are few studies evaluating the effect of environmental condition and nutrition on sperm morphometry. Tablado et al (1998) evaluated the effect of exposure to static magnetic fields on sperm morphometric characteristics in the mouse, observing no significant alterations in sperm head morphometry. Maroto-Morales et al (2010) described significant differences in sperm head morphometry between rams belonging to different herds.…”

“…This effect has been described in boars (Kondracki et al, 2005), dogs (Castro-López et al, 2008) and rams (Marti et al, 2011b). In addition, the final sperm morphology is defined during the pass through the epididymides, where maturation of the cells involves changes in the membrane composition, DNA package level, and acrosome structure (Yeung et al, 1997;Tablado et al, 1998;Gago et al, 2000;Soler et al, 2000). Another morphological characteristic affected by epididymal maturation process is the presence of cytoplasmic droplets (Cooper, 2011).…”

Effects of static magnetic fields on the development and aging ofCaenorhabditis elegans

“…Slight changes in spermatogenesis and embryogenesis in mice exposed to 1.5T for 30min have been reported (Narra et al, 1996). The maturation of sperm movement in mice as well as postnatal testicular and epididymis development were largely unaffected by either single, short-term exposure or continuous, long-term exposure at 500-700mT (Tablado et al, 1996;Tablado et al, 1998;Tablado et al, 2000).…”

Cytological effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields and static magnetic fields induced by a therapeutic device on <i>in vivo</i> exposed rats

“…By the way, Tablado et al (1998) found that the size of sperm heads and the percentage of sperm with coiled tails or of sperm with abnormal mid-piece or tail were unaffected in mice exposed to a 0.7 T commercial permanent magnet. We have previously reported the lack of alterations on morphological characteristics of male germ cells in mice exposed to a 60 Hz and 2.0 mT magnetic fields (Heredia-Rojas et al, 2004).…”