Background/Aims:　The　effects　of　exposure　to　radiofrequency　electromagnetic　fields　(RF-EMFs)　on　the　male　reproductive　system　have　raised　public　concern　and　studies　have　shown　that　exposure　to　RF-EMFs　can　induce　DNA　damage　and　autophagy.　However,　there　are　no　related　reports　on　the　role　of　autophagy　in　DNA　damage　in　spermatocytes,　especially　after　exposure　to　RF-EMFs.　The　aim　of　the　present　study　was　to　determine　the　mechanism　and　role　of　autophagy　induced　by　RF-EMFs　in　spermatozoa　cells.　Methods:　Mouse　spermatocyte-derived　cells　(GC-2)　were　exposed　to　RF-EMFs　4　W/kg　for　24　h.　The　level　of　reactive　oxygen　species　(ROS)　was　determined　by　ROS　assay　kit.　Comet　assay　was　utilized　to　detect　DNA　damage.　Autophagy　was　detected　by　three　indicators:　LC3II/LC3I,　autophagic　vacuoles,　and　GFP-LC3　dots,　which　were　measured　by　western　blot,　transmission　electron　microscopy,　and　transfection　with　GFP-LC3,　respectively.　The　expression　of　the　molecular　signaling　pathway　AMP-activated　protein　kinase　(AMPK)/mTOR　was　determined　by　western　blot.　Results:　The　results　showed　that　RF-EMFs　induced　autophagy　and　DNA　damage　in　GC-2　cells　via　ROS　generation,　and　the　autophagy　signaling　pathway　AMPK/mTOR　was　activated　by　ROS　generation.　Furthermore,　following　inhibition　of　autophagy　by　knockdown　of　AMPK　alpha,　increased　DNA　damage　was　observed　in　GC-2　cells　following　RF-EMFs　exposure,　and　overexpression　of　AMPKa　promoted　autophagy　and　attenuated　DNA　damage.　Conclusions:　These　findings　demonstrated　that　the　autophagy　which　was　induced　by　RF-EMFs　via　the　AMPK/mTOR　signaling　pathway　could　prevent　DNA　damage　in　spermatozoa　cells.　(C)　2018　The　Author(s)　Published　by　S.　Karger　AG,　Basel.