Effects and mechanisms of 2.5T terahertz radiation exposure on testis injury in mice

Qinlong MA; Min LIN; Peng GAO; Lingling YANG; Yonghui LU; Yanwen ZHANG; Zhengping YU; Chunhai CHEN

doi:10.16016/j.2097-0927.202311151

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Effects and mechanisms of 2.5T terahertz radiation exposure on testis injury in mice

Basic Medicine | 更新时间：2026-01-09

- Effects and mechanisms of 2.5T terahertz radiation exposure on testis injury in mice
- Journal of Army Medical University Vol. 46, Issue 19, Pages: 2197-2207(2024)
- 作者机构：
  
  400038 重庆，陆军军医大学(第三军医大学)军事预防医学系军队劳动卫生学教研室，电磁辐射医学防护教育部重点实验室
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
  
  the Joint Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China and National Scholastic Athletics Foundation(U2130107);the Excellent Scientist Project of Chongqing Talent Program(cstc2024ycjh-bgzxm0053)
- DOI：10.16016/j.2097-0927.202311151
  CLC： R321.1;R322.64;R818.023
- Received：30 November 2023，
  
  Revised：2024-05-09，
  
  Published：15 October 2024
- 稿件说明：
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Qinlong MA, Min LIN, Peng GAO, et al. Effects and mechanisms of 2.5T terahertz radiation exposure on testis injury in mice[J]. Journal of Army Medical University, 2024, 46(19): 2197-2207.
DOI：

Qinlong MA, Min LIN, Peng GAO, et al. Effects and mechanisms of 2.5T terahertz radiation exposure on testis injury in mice[J]. Journal of Army Medical University, 2024, 46(19): 2197-2207. DOI： 10.16016/j.2097-0927.202311151.

摘要

目的

探讨太赫兹(terahertz

THz)辐射暴露对小鼠睾丸组织的损伤效应及其潜在的分子机制。

方法

采用125只6~8周龄雄性C57BL/6J小鼠，通过频

点为2.5 T的THz辐射单次暴露动物，暴露平均功率密度为38、115和318 mW/cm

，暴露时间为5或10 min。于暴露结束后即刻或24 h分别采用HE染色检测病理损伤，采用ELISA检测睾丸组织炎症因子表达量，采用转录组测序检测睾丸组织基因表达变化整体情况，并通过生物信息学对差异表达基因进行聚类分析，筛选敏感基因并通过RT-qPCR检测其在THz辐射暴露后表达的时效量效关系，最后在显微镜下对精子质量进行形态学分析。

结果

3个剂量THz辐射暴露均未造成小鼠睾丸组织显著病理损伤；平均功率密度115 mW/cm

暴露后即刻TNF-α表达增高(

＜0.01)，THz剂量达到318 mW/cm

后，IL-1β及TNF-α的表达均升高(

＜0.01)，但在24 h后均恢复至正常水平。转录组测序结果表明，THz辐射暴露能够造成56个基因表达异常，聚类分析结果表明，这些基因主要富集于免疫与炎症反应、酶活性、精子发育与获能等功能。对筛选出的关键基因

Crisp

1、

Adam

7、

Ltf

、

Rnase

9与

Bsph

1表达检测发现，115 mW/cm

暴露后即刻

Crisp

1与

Rnase

9表达下调，剂量至318 mW/cm

时，所有5个基因表达均发生显著变化(

＜0.05)，而24 h后均恢复至正常水平。对精子功能的形态学检测发现，3个剂量THz辐射暴露均不导致精子质量的变化。

结论

THz辐射单次暴露引起睾丸组织的暂时性炎症反应和精子功能相关基因表达异常，但24 h后可恢复正常，不影响精子质量。

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effects of terahertz (THz) radiation on mouse testicular tissue and its potential molecular mechanisms.

Methods

A total of 125 male C57BL/6J mice (6~8 weeks old) were randomly divided into control group and low-

medium- and high-radiation power groups. The mice of the latter 3 groups were exposed to THz radiation at a frequency of 2.5 T

with an average power density of 38

115

or 318 mW/cm

for 5 or 10 min. The detection time was immediately or 24 h after exposure. HE staining was used to observe pathological damage. ELISA was employed to detect the expression of inflammatory factors in testicular tissue. RNA-seq was utilized to detect the global changes of gene expression. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened and bioinformatics was used to cluster them. The screened genes were further analyzed with RT-qPCR to determine the time-dependent and dose-dependent relationships of the expressi

on with THz exposure. Finally

sperm quality was evaluated morphologically using a microscope.

Results

Three doses of THz radiation exposure did not cause significant pathological damages to mouse testicular tissue. TNF-α expression was increased immediately after exposure at average power density of 115 mW/cm

(

0.01)

and the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α were both increased when the dose reached 318 mW/cm

(

0.01). However

all the 3 factors returned to normal levels in 24 h after exposure. RNA-seq results showed that THz radiation exposure caused abnormal expression of 56 genes. Cluster analysis indicated that these DEGs were mainly enriched in immune and inflammatory responses

enzyme activity

sperm development and capacitation functions. Then for 5 selected key genes

Crisp

Adam

Ltf

Rnase

and

Bsph

the expression of

Crisp

1 and

Rnase

9 was decreased immediately after exposure to 115 mW/cm

THz radiation

the dose of 318 mW/cm

resulted in obvious changes in the expression of the 5 genes (

0.05)

and their expression returned to normal levels in 24 h after exposure. Morphological observation displayed that exposure to all the 3 doses of THz had no influence on sperm quality.

Conclusion

THz radiation exposure causes temporary inflammatory response in testicular tissue and abnormal expression of sperm functions-related genes. However

these changes return to normal 24 h after exposure

and additionally

do not impair sperm quality.

关键词

Keywords

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Chunhai CHEN

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Related Institution

Graduate Institute， Chinese PLA Medical School

Department of Laboratory Medicine， First Medical Center， Chinese PLA General Hospital

Department of Nutrition, Nutrition and Food Safety Research Center， Chongqing Medical Nutrition Research Center， Chongqing Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Health， Faculty of Military Preventive Medicine， Army Medical University （Third Military Medical University）

Department of Military Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Nutrition and Food Safety Research Center， Chongqing Medical Nutrition Research Center， Chongqing Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Health， Faculty of Military Preventive Medicine， Army Medical University （Third Military Medical University）

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery， Second Affiliated Hospital， Army Medical University （Third Military Medical University）， Chongqing, Nutrition and Food Safety Research Center， Chongqing Medical Nutrition Research Center， Chongqing Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Health， Faculty of Military Preventive Medicine， Army Medical University （Third Military Medical University）

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