Figure 5.

Susceptibility of mouse spermatozoa to RF-EMR (1.8 GHz, 0.15 W/kg). Mature mouse spermatozoa isolated from the cauda epididymis were exposed to RF-EMR of an intensity of 0.15 W/kg. At regular intervals during exposure, a portion of the live cell population was assessed for (A) mitochondrial ROS generation using the MSR probe via flow cytometry. These cells experienced a highly significant time dependent increase in ROS production (p < 0.001). (B) Similarly, total vitality was evaluated with an eosin stain. (C) Alternatively, perturbation of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was determined through incubation with the JC1 probe. In this instance, the percentage of cells displaying green fluorescence indicative of high mitochondrial membrane potential was determined, again via flow cytometry. Both vitality and MMP measures experienced significant time-dependent decreases independent of RF-EMR exposure (p < 0.001). These analyses were performed on at least three biological replicates and data are presented as mean ± SEM.