Mobile phone radiation induces mode-dependent DNA damage in a mouse spermatocyte-derived cell line: A protective role of melatonin

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate whether exposure to mobile phone radiation (MPR) can induce DNA damage in male germ cells.

Materials and methods: A mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cell line was exposed to a commercial mobile phone handset once every 20 min in standby, listen, dialed or dialing modes for 24 h. DNA damage was determined using an alkaline comet assay.

Results: The levels of DNA damage were significantly increased following exposure to MPR in the listen, dialed and dialing modes. Moreover, there were significantly higher increases in the dialed and dialing modes than in the listen mode. Interestingly, these results were consistent with the radiation intensities of these modes. However, the DNA damage effects of MPR in the dialing mode were efficiently attenuated by melatonin pretreatment.

Conclusions: These results regarding mode-dependent DNA damage have important implications for the safety of inappropriate mobile phone use by males of reproductive age and also suggest a simple preventive measure: Keeping mobile phones as far away from our body as possible, not only during conversations but during ‘dialed’ and ‘dialing’ operation modes. Since the ‘dialed’ mode is actually part of the standby mode, mobile phones should be kept at a safe distance from our body even during standby operation. Furthermore, the protective role of melatonin suggests that it may be a promising pharmacological candidate for preventing mobile phone use-related reproductive impairments.

Keywords::

• Male germ cells
• mobile phone radiation
• radio frequency electromagnetic radiation
• DNA damage

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Ms Hong-Juan Wu, Ms Min Li and Mr Ju Yang for their kind technical assistance.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (National 973 Program; Grant No. 2011CB503700) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 31170800 and 30900274).