To investigate the effects of a 30 day electric field exposure (60 Hz, 65 kV/m) on the circadian production and secretion of the pineal gland hormone melatonin in male rats.
Activities of two pineal gland enzymes (i.e. enzyme activity (pineal N-acetyltransferase and hydroxyindole-o-methyltransferase), both involved in the biosynthesis of melatonin, and pineal melatonin levels, and melatonin levels in bood serum were investigated during light and dark phase.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
60 Hz
Exposure duration:
continuous, 30 day; sham exposed 20 day
|
|
| Frequency | 60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous, 30 day; sham exposed 20 day |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Chamber | two identical windowless rooms with 10 in x 4.75 in x 4.5 in Plexiglass cages |
| Setup | the aminals; between the two top plates exposed and between the two bottom plates sham exposed |
| Additional info | cages with wire mesh floors in contact with ground plate of the exposure apparatus. EF strength mapped with a 10 cm Kaune disk probe with a 2.48 cm diameter center |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| electric field strength | 65 kV/m | mean | measured | - | - |
Electric field exposure had no effect on pineal melatonin level or enzymatic activity of N-acetyltransferase and hydroxyindole-o-methyltransferase, respectively. However, exposed animals exhibited lower serum melatonin levels at night as compared with sham-exposed animals.
These findings suggest that degradation or tissue uptake of melatonin is stimulated due to exposure.
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