Prof. Dr. Alexander Lerchl

Zoology, Neurophysiology, Neuroendocrinology, Chronobiology, Biostatistics

People often fear the introduction of new technology, particularly the introduction and the use of artificial magnetic and magnetic fields. For example, while the new 5G standard for wireless communication is necessary to transport ever-increasing amounts of data, many people think it is a new, untested technology. Similarly, the public is concerned about new technologies for wirelessly charging automobiles. Our group is investigating the potential biological effects of both technologies, using cell and animal models

Publications in peer-reviewed articles (2001-2012):

• Dauth, S., Sirbulescu, R. F., Jordans, S., Rehders, M., Avena, L., Oswald, J., et al. (2011). Cathepsin K deficiency in mice induces structural and metabolic changes in the central nervous system that are associated with learning and memory deficits. BMC Neurosci, 12, 74.
• Debus, O. M., Lerchl, A., Bothe, H. W., Bremer, J., Fiedler, B., Franssen, M., et al. (2002). Spontaneous central melatonin secretion and resorption kinetics of exogenous melatonin: a ventricular CSF study. J Pineal Res, 33(4), 213-217.
• Erren, T. C., Erren, M., Lerchl, A., & Meyer-Rochow, V. B. (2008). Clockwork blue: on the evolution of non-image-forming retinal photoreceptors in marine and terrestrial vertebrates. Naturwissenschaften, 95(4), 273-279.
• Griefahn, B., Kunemund, C., Blaszkewicz, M., Lerchl, A., & Degen, G. H. (2002). Effects of electromagnetic radiation (bright light, extremely low-frequency magnetic fields, infrared radiation) on the circadian rhythm of melatonin synthesis, rectal temperature, and heart rate. Ind Health, 40(4), 320-327.
• Hermann, R., Podhajsky, S., Jungnickel, S., & Lerchl, A. (2002). Potentiation of antiproliferative effects of tamoxifen and ethanol on mouse hepatoma cells by melatonin: possible involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase and induction of apoptosis. J Pineal Res, 33(1), 8-13.
• Hermann, R., Poppe, L., Pilbak, S., Boden, C., Maurer, J., Weber, S., et al. (2005). Predicted 3D-structure of melanopsin, the non-rod, non-cone photopigment of the mammalian circadian clock, from Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). Neurosci Lett, 376(2), 76-80.
• Kamischke, A., Simoni, M., Schrameyer, K., Lerchl, A., & Nieschlag, E. (2001). Is inhibin B a pharmacodynamic parameter for FSH in normal men? Eur J Endocrinol, 144(6), 629-637.
• Karasek, M., & Lerchl, A. (2002). Melatonin and magnetic fields. Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 23 Suppl 1, 84-87.
• Keithahn, C., & Lerchl, A. (2005). 5-hydroxytryptophan is a more potent in vitro hydroxyl radical scavenger than melatonin or vitamin C. J Pineal Res, 38(1), 62-66.
• Klose, M., Grote, K., & Lerchl, A. (2011). Temporal control of spermatogenesis is independent of the central circadian pacemaker in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). Biol Reprod, 84(1), 124-129.
• Lerchl, A. (2002). Biological rhythms in the context of light at night (LAN). Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 23 Suppl 2, 23-27.
• Lerchl, A. (2003). Comments on the recent publication on microwave effects on Emicro-Pim1 transgenic mice (Utteridge et al., Radiat. Res. 158, 357-364, 2002). Radiat Res, 159(2), 276; author reply 276-278.
• Lerchl, A. (2004a). Melatonin administration alters semen quality in normal men. J Androl, 25(2), 185-186; author reply 186-187.
• Lerchl, A. (2004b). Month of birth and life expectancy: role of gender and age in a comparative approach. Naturwissenschaften, 91(9), 422-425.
• Lerchl, A. (2005). Where are the Sunday babies? Observations on a marked decline in weekend births in Germany. Naturwissenschaften, 92(12), 592-594.
• Lerchl, A. (2006). It's Erren's brainchild, folks! Cancer Res, 66(7), 3954-3955.
• Lerchl, A. (2007). Impossible melatonin data. Int J Androl, 30(5), 484; author reply 484.
• Lerchl, A. (2008a). Comments on "Effects of a 2450 MHz high-frequency electromagnetic field with a wide range of SARs on the induction of heat-shock proteins in A172 cells" by Wang et al. (Bioelectromagnetics 27: 479-486, 2006). Bioelectromagnetics, 29(7), 583-584; discussion 584.
• Lerchl, A. (2008b). Where are the Sunday babies? III. Caesarean sections, decreased weekend births, and midwife involvement in Germany. Naturwissenschaften, 95(2), 165-170.
• Lerchl, A. (2009). Comments on "Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes" by Schwarz et al. (Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2008: doi: 10.1007/s00420-008-0305-5). Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 82(2), 275-278.
• Lerchl, A. (2010a). Are these data real? Comments on "No effects of intermittent 50 Hz EMF on cytoplasmic free calcium and on the mitochondrial membrane potential in human diploid fibroblasts." by Pilger et al. (Radiat Environ Biophys 43:203-7 (2004)). Radiat Environ Biophys, 49(3), 491-493; author reply 495-497.
• Lerchl, A. (2010b). Inappropriate statistical analyses lead to erroneous results [Focke et al., Mutation Research 683 (2010) 74-83]. Mutat Res, 692(1-2), 61-62; author reply 63-64.
• Lerchl, A. (2011a). Animal studies on growth and development. Prog Biophys Mol Biol, 107(3), 404-407.
• Lerchl, A. (2011b). Comment on "in vitro effect of pulsed 900 MHz GSM radiation on mitochondrial membrane potential and motility of human spermatozoa" by Falzone et al. (Bioelectromagnetics 29: 268-276, 2008). Bioelectromagnetics, 32(6), 509; author reply 510.
• Lerchl, A. (2012). Letter on 'The effect of pulsed 900-MHz GSM mobile phone radiation on the acrosome reaction, head morphometry and zona binding of human spermatozoa' by Falzone et al. (Int J Androl 34: 20-26, 2011). Int J Androl, 35(1), 103; author reply 104.
• Lerchl, A., & Bornkessel, C. (2010). Letter to the Editor on 'Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on testicular function and structure in adult rabbit' by Salama et al. Int J Androl, 33(1), 95; author reply 96-97.
• Lerchl, A., Kruger, H., Niehaus, M., Streckert, J. R., Bitz, A. K., & Hansen, V. (2008). Effects of mobile phone electromagnetic fields at nonthermal SAR values on melatonin and body weight of Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). J Pineal Res, 44(3), 267-272.
• Lerchl, A., & Reinhard, S. C. (2008). Where are the Sunday babies? II. Declining weekend birth rates in Switzerland. Naturwissenschaften, 95(2), 161-164.
• Lerchl, A., Schindler, C., Eichhorn, K., Kley, F., & Erren, T. C. (2009). Indirect blue light does not suppress nocturnal salivary melatonin in humans in an automobile setting. J Pineal Res, 47(2), 143-146.
• Lerchl, A., & Wilhelm, A. F. (2010). Critical comments on DNA breakage by mobile-phone electromagnetic fields [Diem et al., Mutat. Res. 583 (2005) 178-183]. Mutat Res, 697(1-2), 60-65.
• Ludemann, P., Zwernemann, S., & Lerchl, A. (2001). Clearance of melatonin and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin by hemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease. J Pineal Res, 31(3), 222-227.
• Reinhardt, T., Bitz, A., El Ouardi, A., Streckert, J., Sommer, A., Lerchl, A., et al. (2007). Exposure set-ups for in vivo experiments using radial waveguides. Radiat Prot Dosimetry, 124(1), 21-26.
• Repacholi, M. H., Lerchl, A., Roosli, M., Sienkiewicz, Z., Auvinen, A., Breckenkamp, J., et al. (2012). Systematic review of wireless phone use and brain cancer and other head tumors. Bioelectromagnetics, 33(3), 187-206.
• Sommer, A. M., Bitz, A. K., Streckert, J., Hansen, V. W., & Lerchl, A. (2007a). Lymphoma development in mice chronically exposed to UMTS-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Radiat Res, 168(1), 72-80.
• Sommer, A. M., Bogusch, C., & Lerchl, A. (2007b). Cognitive function in outbred house mice after 22 weeks of drinking oxygenated water. Physiol Behav, 91(1), 173-179.
• Sommer, A. M., Grote, K., Reinhardt, T., Streckert, J., Hansen, V., & Lerchl, A. (2009). Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS) on reproduction and development of mice: a multi-generation study. Radiat Res, 171(1), 89-95.
• Sommer, A. M., & Lerchl, A. (2004). The risk of lymphoma in AKR/J mice does not rise with chronic exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields (1 microT and 100 microT). Radiat Res, 162(2), 194-200.
• Sommer, A. M., & Lerchl, A. (2006). 50 Hz magnetic fields of 1 mT do not promote lymphoma development in AKR/J mice. Radiat Res, 165(3), 343-349.
• Sommer, A. M., Streckert, J., Bitz, A. K., Hansen, V. W., & Lerchl, A. (2004). No effects of GSM-modulated 900 MHz electromagnetic fields on survival rate and spontaneous development of lymphoma in female AKR/J mice. BMC Cancer, 4, 77.
• Sukhotina, I., Streckert, J. R., Bitz, A. K., Hansen, V. W., & Lerchl, A. (2006). 1800 MHz electromagnetic field effects on melatonin release from isolated pineal glands. J Pineal Res, 40(1), 86-91.
• Tarulli, G. A., Stanton, P. G., Lerchl, A., & Meachem, S. J. (2006). Adult sertoli cells are not terminally differentiated in the Djungarian hamster: effect of FSH on proliferation and junction protein organization. Biol Reprod, 74(5), 798-806.

Book chapters:

• Lerchl, A., Vergleichende Biologie der Reproduktion, In: Nieschlag, E., Behre, H.M. (eds.) Andrologie: Grundlagen und Klinik. 2. Auflage, Springer, Berlin, 2000, pp. 13-26.
• Lerchl, A., Comparative biology of reproduction, In: Nieschlag, E., Behre, H.M. (eds.) Andrology: Male Reproductive Health and Dysfunction. 2nd Edition, Springer, Berlin, 2000, pp. 11-22.
• Lerchl, A., Brendel, H., Niehaus, M., Krishnamurthy, H., Hansen, V., Streckert, J., Bitz, A., 900 MHz electromagnetic fields: exposure parameters and effects on Djungarian hamsters. In: Klauenberg, B.J. and Miklavcic, D. (eds.) Radio Frequency Radiation Dosimetry. Kluwer, Amsterdam, 2000, pp. 419-428.
• Dasenbrock, C., Lerchl, A., Tierexperimentelle Studien - Krebs. In: Wiedemann, P.M., Schütz, H., Spangenberg, A. (eds.) Risikobewertung Mobilfunk; Ergebnisse eines Wissenschaftlichen Dialogs. Schriften des Forschungszentrums Jülich: 54, B1 - B19 (2005)

Group Leader at Universität Münster Institut für Reproduktionsmedizin

Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter / Arbeitsgruppenleiter at Universitätsklinikum Münster