# RF-018 — Rat sperm motility and oxidative markers

Why this matters
A separate laboratory reported poorer sperm movement in exposed rats, alongside signs of chemical stress in reproductive tissues. This broadens the reproductive question beyond one research group. Small samples, separate exposure rooms and missing dose measurements limit conclusions about the cause or relevance to human exposure.

Id: RF-018

Author: Mailankot et al.

Full Authors: Maneesh Mailankot; Anil P Kunnath; H Jayalekshmi; Bhargav Koduru; Rohith Valsalan

Year: 2009

Title: Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation (RF-EMR) from GSM (0.9/1.8GHZ) Mobile Phones Induces Oxidative Stress and Reduces Sperm Motility in Rats

Journal: clinics

Citation: Mailankot M,Kunnath AP,Jayalekshmi H,Koduru B,Valsalan R. Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation (RF-EMR) from GSM(0.9/1.8GHZ) Mobile Phones Induces Oxidative Stress and Reduces Sperm Motility in Rats. Clinics.2009;64(6):561-565. DOI10.1590/S1807-59322009000600011.

Doi: 10.1590/S1807-59322009000600011

Pmid: 19578660

Topic: Reproduction

Verification Group: Original text reviewed

Record Role: Original text reviewed

Featured: False

Exposure: Dual-band 0.9/1.8 GHz commercial handset; no animal SAR or incident field reported. Pre/post facial temperatures were not significantly different.

Design: Male Wistar rats,n=6/group. Active GSM phone or battery-free phone 1 h/day for 28 days inside a wooden-bottom nested cage; separate similar exposure rooms; freely moving animals.

Finding: Motile sperm 43.08±10.03% exposed versus 71.97±8.7% control,P<.002. Testis/epididymis MDA increased and GSH decreased. Total sperm count was not significantly different,P=.052.

Boundary: Small groups; rooms confounded with treatment; facial thermometry does not exclude organ heating; no dose assessment or mating/fertility outcome.

Protection Question: Does this separate laboratory sperm finding persist when exposure-room and thermal uncertainties are resolved? The missing absorbed dose prevents a quantitative comparison with human protection.

Access: Original PMC XML full methods/results reviewed; upgraded from record only.

Locator: Animals; Mobile Phone Exposure; Results; Figures 1-2.

Notice: Primary PubMed linked-notice record checked 20 Oct 2026; no correction, concern or retraction linked at check. This is not an exhaustive publisher-history certification.

Funding: No specific funding statement located; technical assistance acknowledged from Clinical Embryology,Kasturba Medical College.

Conflicts: No declaration located in retrieved original; absence of conflicts not inferred.

Source Url: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322009000600011

Retrieval Links: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322009000600011 | https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2705159/ | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19578660/

Verification Date: 2026-10-20