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Does static electric field from ultra-high voltage direct-current transmission lines affect male reproductive capacity? Evidence from a laboratory study on male mice

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Abstract

With the development of ultra-high-voltage direct-current (UHVDC) transmission technology and increase in transmission voltage, the issue of environmental static electric field (SEF) pollution is standing out and its possible health effects have caused much public attention. In this study, the effects of chronic exposure to SEF on reproductive capacity of male mice were investigated. Twenty Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were exposed to SEF (56.3 ± 1.4 kV/m, 49 days) generated by a high-voltage device. Several biological end points related to spermatogenesis and testicular function were evaluated, including reproductive organ coefficients, sperm motility and morphology, serum testosterone level, and testicular histology. No significant differences were found between the SEF-exposed and sham-exposed groups at the end of the exposure period. However, further observation through transmission electron microscopy revealed cristae losses in mitochondria of spermatogenic cells after SEF exposure. Nevertheless, the mitochondria injury did not affect sperm motility, which might be explained from the perspective of energy supply. That is, most of the energy required for sperm movement is generated by glycolysis which occurs in the cytoplasm rather than oxidative phosphorylation which occurs in mitochondria. In conclusion, this study indicates that exposure to SEF (56.3 ± 1.4 kV/m, 49 days) has limited effects on male reproductive capacity.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Funds from the State Grid Corporation of China (Contract No. 520940150008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China

    Sixia Wu & Guoqing Di

  2. Department of Architecture, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, People’s Republic of China

    Zhengguang Li

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  1. Sixia Wu
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  2. Guoqing Di
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  3. Zhengguang Li
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Correspondence to Guoqing Di.

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This study was conducted in accordance with the Quality Management Approach to Laboratory Animals, and all animal experimental protocols were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Zhejiang University.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Wu, S., Di, G. & Li, Z. Does static electric field from ultra-high voltage direct-current transmission lines affect male reproductive capacity? Evidence from a laboratory study on male mice. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 18025–18034 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9229-5

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