EFFECTS OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ON BOAR SPERM PERMEABILITY

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EFFECTS OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ON BOAR SPERM
PERMEABILITY

• Alita Loveless, PGY 4
• M. Sellers, L. Welch, S. Prien

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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

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Previous Experiments

• Exposure to extremely high EMFs caused a decrease
  in semen parameters
• Parameters are indicative of cell function

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Questions

• A way to detect signs of cell damage before cell
  function was altered
• Mechanism leading to decreased cell function

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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

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Common Lab Equipment

• Hood 8 mG
• Centrifuge 36 mG
• Incubator
• Upper shelf 86 mG
• Middle shelf 32 mG
• Lower shelf 2 mG

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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

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Results

• Decreases in standard semen parameters

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Results

• Effects on path straightness and linearity

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Results

• Increased cell permeability with EMF exposure

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Conclusion

• Short-term exposure to an EMF appears to increase
  sperm permeability and alter cell physiology

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Clinical Relevance

• Assisted Reproductive Technology labs
• Environment is critical
• Could basic equipment be affecting our success
  rates?

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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/