Effect of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field and GABA(A) Receptors on Serum Testosterone Level of Male Rats

BACKGROUND: GABA can influence the steroidogenesis in peripheral and central nervoussystems. OBJECTIVES: The present study investigates the interactive effect of GABA(A) receptors and extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on serum testosterone level of male rats. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty adult male rats were randomly assigned into 10 groups. Groups 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 were exposed to ELF-EMF for 30 days 8hrs per day; while, the remaining groups (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9) were sham exposed animals. At the end of the experiment, animals in groups 1 and 2 received normal saline; while, animals in groups 3 and 4 were treated with 1 mg/kg of bicuculline methiodide, and for animals of groups 5 and 6,3 mg/kg of bicuculline was injected. Animals of groups 7 and 8 were treated with 0.5 mg/kg of muscimol hydrobromide and rats in groups 9 and 10 received 2 mg/kg muscimol hydrobromide. About forty minutes after the injection, blood samples were collected and serum testosterone level was assayed using RIA. RESULTS: Administration of muscimol hydrobromide at both doses to sham exposed rats significantly decreased serum testosterone level as compared to sham exposed animals which received saline. Administration of bicuculline methiodide without exposure to ELF-EMF, had no significant effect on testosterone level as compared to group 1. Serum testosterone levels of rats in different groups, exposed to ELF-EMF were statistically the same. Moreover, serum testosterone of exposed and sham exposed rats in each treatment showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: No interactivity is present in modulatory effects of GABA(A) receptors and ELF-EMFs on serum testosterone of male rats.