Introduction: With increasing the use of cell phones, the interest of examining the hazards that could affect health of people, which may or may not lead to cancer, infertility, or birth defects, was elevated. Recently, a natural flavonoid compound, Naringenin (NG) had received considerable attention as an antioxidant.
Aim of the work: Evaluating the effects of mobile phone use on the testes of adult rats, the progress of spontaneous recovery and the protective role of NG supplementation against these effects.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male albino rats were equally divided into four groups; control (I), (II) mobile, (III) mobile-NG and (IV) recovery. Mobile group exposed to 900 MHz continuous RF-EMW emitted by talk mode for one hour daily for 8 weeks. Mobile-NG group exposed to RF-EMW like group III for 8 weeks concomitant with NG treatment 50 mg/kg /day orally. While recovery group exposed to the same RF-EMW for 8 weeks then kept unexposed for another 8 weeks for recovery. Serum levels of testosterone hormone, epididymal sperm counts and testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured. Testicular sections were stained with H&E and immunohistochemical stains for PCNA, p53, CX43 and AR, that were subjected to morphometric and statistically analysis.
Results: Deterioration of histological architecture of testes and biochemical and morphometric parameters were
recorded in mobile group. However, preservation of the testicular histological structure and restoration of the normal biochemical and morphometric parameters were obvious in group IV. On the other hand, the recovery group showed incomplete improvement where some testicular affection was noted.
Conclusion: Mobile phones might have injurious effects on testes that partially recovered after stoppage of exposure to EMW. However, NG co-administration was protective.