Vitamin E protects rat testis, eye and erythrocyte from oxidative stress during exposure to radiofrequency wave generated by a BTS antenna model

Background: Radio frequency wave (RFW) generated by mobile phones and wireless communication systems has been reported to cause adverse effects on reproductive function, vision and hematological parameters, possibly through oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of RFW generated bybase transceiver station BTS on oxidative stress in testis, eye and erythrocyte, and the prophylactic effect of vitamin E by measuring the antioxidant enzymes activity, including: glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and lipid proxidation. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and treated daily for 45 days as follows: control, treatment control (vitamin E 200 mg/kg of body weight/day by gavage), sham exposed group (exposed to 900 MHz RFW), and treatment group (received vitamin E and exposed to RFW). Control and treatment control groups were not exposed and were only given the vehicle, i.e., distilled water. On the last day of the study, all the rats were sacrificed and their testes, eyes and erythrocyte were collected and used for measurement of antioxidant enzymes activity and lipid peroxidation. Results: Exposure to RFW in the sham exposed group decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and increased lipid peroxidation compared to both control groups (p<0.05). In the treatment group, vitamin E improved antioxidant enzymes activity and reduced lipid peroxidation compared to the sham exposed group (p<0.05). Conclusion: RFW causes oxidative stress in eye, testis and erythrocytes and vitamin E improved oxidative stress in these tissues.