# WEB-039 — 27.5 GHz: reproductive responses differ between mouse strains

Why this matters
An effect averaged across a population can miss differences in susceptibility. This recent experiment found that mouse strains responded differently to prolonged exposure, with sperm and testicular changes concentrated in particular groups. The differences are a reason to examine the design and results closely.

Id: WEB-039

Author: Palone et al.

Full Authors: Francesca Palone; Flavia Novelli; Emanuela Pasquali; Simona Leonardi; Ilaria De Stefano; Emiliano Fratini; Mirella Tanori; Marta Piscitelli; Caterina Merla; Rosanna Pinto; Lucia Ardoino; Alessandro Zambotti; Francesca Camera; Simonetta Pazzaglia; Myles Capstick; Theodoros Samaras; Mariateresa Mancuso

Year: 2026

Title: Strain-dependent effects of long-term exposure to 27.5 GHz 5 G millimeter waves on male reproductive outcomes in mice

Journal: Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)

Citation: Francesca Palone; Flavia Novelli; Emanuela Pasquali; Simona Leonardi; Ilaria De Stefano; Emiliano Fratini; Mirella Tanori; Marta Piscitelli; Caterina Merla; Rosanna Pinto; Lucia Ardoino; Alessandro Zambotti; Francesca Camera; Simonetta Pazzaglia; Myles Capstick; Theodoros Samaras; Mariateresa Mancuso. Strain-dependent effects of long-term exposure to 27.5 GHz 5 G millimeter waves on male reproductive outcomes in mice. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.). 2026. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2026.109370.

Doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2026.109370

Pmid: 42810696

Topic: Millimetre-wave reproduction; Reproductive endocrine responses; Genetic susceptibility

Verification Group: Original abstract reviewed

Record Role: Original abstract reviewed

Featured: False

Exposure: 27.5 GHz for 100 days from age 8 weeks; 6.67 or 20 W/m². Reported mean whole-body SAR 0.26 or 0.77 W/kg.

Design: Three mouse strains, Car-S, CD1 and C57BL/6J; sham controls, sperm analysis, testicular histology and serum testosterone.

Finding: Car-S mice showed reduced sperm concentration/motility and testicular/hormonal changes; C57BL/6J showed intermediate effects. CD1 sperm endpoints were largely preserved.

Statistics: See the original results; effect sizes were not independently recalculated.

Boundary: Original abstract only. Some animals had prior carcinogen treatment; subgroup design, statistics and dose distribution need full-text audit. Authors report non-thermal conditions; human and satellite relevance remains unestablished.

Related: SEAWave/ENEA programme; related early-life skin study is not an independent replication of these endpoints. Related publication records: WEB-038.

Protection Question: Which exposure conditions reproduce this finding, and what would establish its relevance beyond the experimental model?

Access: Original abstract and bibliographic identity reviewed; full methods, dosimetry and statistics not audited.

Locator: Original abstract

Notice: Linked Europe PMC/PubMed notice fields checked 21 October 2026; no correction/retraction surfaced for this record. Publisher/citation screening is not exhaustive.

Funding: Not established from the retrieved original abstract.

Conflicts: Not established from the retrieved original abstract.

Source Url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2026.109370

Retrieval Links: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2026.109370 | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42810696/

Verification Date: 2026-10-21

Discovery Id: TARGETED-20261021-12

Technology Tracks: 5g|satellite|millimetre

Technology Connection: 27.5 GHz is relevant to 5G high-band research and overlaps a satellite uplink band. These are laboratory animal exposures, not a satellite-system experiment.

Publication Type: Original journal research

Study Setting: Animals

Browse Categories: reproduction