effects of an electromagnetic field on boar sperm permeability alita loveless, pgy 4 m. sellers, l....
TRANSCRIPT
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/