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Biomedicines
Volume 13
Issue 10
10.3390/biomedicines13102471
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Prolonged 3.5 GHz and 24 GHz RF-EMF Exposure Alters Testicular Immune Balance, Apoptotic Gene Expression, and Sperm Function in Rats

by
Syed Muhamad Asyraf Syed Taha
1,
Farah Hanan Fathihah Jaffar
1,
Atikah Hairulazam
1,
Sivasatyan Vijay
1,
Norazurashima Jamaludin
2,
Aini Farzana Zulkifli
1,
Mohd Farisyam Mat Ros
1,
Khairul Osman
2,
Zahriladha Zakaria
3,
Amyrul Azuan Bin Mohd Bahar
4 and
Siti Fatimah Ibrahim
1,*
1
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
2
Forensic Science Program, Center for Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Investigative Studies (CODTIS), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
3
Faculty of Electronics & Computer Technology and Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia (UTeM), Hang Tuah Jaya, Durian Tunggal 76100, Melaka, Malaysia
4
Intel Microelectronics (M) Sdn. Bhd., Bayan Lepas Technoplex, Medan Bayan Lepas, Bayan Lepas 11900, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biomedicines 2025, 13(10), 2471; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102471 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 12 September 2025 / Revised: 8 October 2025 / Accepted: 8 October 2025 / Published: 11 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Regulation of Spermatozoa—Second Edition)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

 Background/Objectives: The rapid rollout of 5G has renewed interest in potential reproductive effects of mid-band (3.5 GHz) and millimeter-wave (24 GHz) radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). We examined frequency- and duration-dependent changes in testicular cytokines, apoptosis-related genes, and sperm quality in rats. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 6 per group) were exposed for 60 days to 3.5 GHz or 24 GHz RF-EMF for 1 h/day or 7 h/day. The sham controls were housed identically. Testicular expressions of IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were quantified; Tp53, Bax, Bcl2, and Casp3 mRNA expressions were measured; and sperm concentration, viability, and motility were evaluated. Results: IL-10 was significantly reduced in the 24 GHz group at both 1-h and 7-h exposure duration. At 7 h, TNF-α was also lower at 24 GHz. Casp3 expression was higher and Tp53 was lower at 3.5 GHz at 1-h exposure duration. Sperm concentration and viability were reduced after 24 GHz exposure at 7 h, while sperm motility was reduced after 3.5 GHz exposure at both durations. Conclusions: Exposure to RF-EMF 3.5 GHz primarily impacts sperm motility via extrinsic pro-apoptotic pathways, while exposure to 24 GHz impacts sperm concentration and viability potentially through immune–apoptotic mechanisms, with all negative effects amplified by 7-h daily exposure. 

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MDPI and ACS Style

Syed Taha, S.M.A.; Jaffar, F.H.F.; Hairulazam, A.; Vijay, S.; Jamaludin, N.; Zulkifli, A.F.; Mat Ros, M.F.; Osman, K.; Zakaria, Z.; Mohd Bahar, A.A.B.; et al. Prolonged 3.5 GHz and 24 GHz RF-EMF Exposure Alters Testicular Immune Balance, Apoptotic Gene Expression, and Sperm Function in Rats. Biomedicines 2025, 13, 2471. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102471

AMA Style

Syed Taha SMA, Jaffar FHF, Hairulazam A, Vijay S, Jamaludin N, Zulkifli AF, Mat Ros MF, Osman K, Zakaria Z, Mohd Bahar AAB, et al. Prolonged 3.5 GHz and 24 GHz RF-EMF Exposure Alters Testicular Immune Balance, Apoptotic Gene Expression, and Sperm Function in Rats. Biomedicines. 2025; 13(10):2471. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102471

Chicago/Turabian Style

Syed Taha, Syed Muhamad Asyraf, Farah Hanan Fathihah Jaffar, Atikah Hairulazam, Sivasatyan Vijay, Norazurashima Jamaludin, Aini Farzana Zulkifli, Mohd Farisyam Mat Ros, Khairul Osman, Zahriladha Zakaria, Amyrul Azuan Bin Mohd Bahar, and et al. 2025. "Prolonged 3.5 GHz and 24 GHz RF-EMF Exposure Alters Testicular Immune Balance, Apoptotic Gene Expression, and Sperm Function in Rats" Biomedicines 13, no. 10: 2471. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102471

APA Style

Syed Taha, S. M. A., Jaffar, F. H. F., Hairulazam, A., Vijay, S., Jamaludin, N., Zulkifli, A. F., Mat Ros, M. F., Osman, K., Zakaria, Z., Mohd Bahar, A. A. B., & Ibrahim, S. F. (2025). Prolonged 3.5 GHz and 24 GHz RF-EMF Exposure Alters Testicular Immune Balance, Apoptotic Gene Expression, and Sperm Function in Rats. Biomedicines, 13(10), 2471. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102471

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