LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ELF MAGNETIC-FIELDS ON THE MOUSE TESTIS AND SERUM TESTOSTERONE LEVELS

Male OF1 mice were exposed continuously to a magnetic field of 50 Hz a nd 15 mu T (rms) in order to elucidate the possible alterations in tes tis histology and its endocrine function caused by this exposure. Moth ers were chronically exposed from the age of 6 weeks and had their off spring under the same experimental conditions. Offspring were sacrific ed at the age of 10 weeks and the testes were removed and studied hist ologically. Serum testosterone levels were measured by enzymatic immun oassay. A significant increase in the size and weight of the testes, n ot related to the increment of the body weight (gonadosomatic index in creased), was found in the experimental group compared to the control group. Histologically, this finding is due to an increase in the inter stitial tissue, associated with increased levels of testosterone in th e blood. Complete spermatogenesis was found in all the animals, in bot h the control and experimental groups. No differences were found in th e morphology of the seminiferous epithelium.