The effects of a whole body exposure of rats to a 60 Hz magnetic field on the level of various neurotransmitters and nitric oxide in the brain should be investigated.
30 rats were divided into the following groups (n=10 each): 1) sham exposure, 2) exposure for 2 days and 3) exposure for 5 days.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
60 Hz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 2 days
|
|
|
Exposure 2:
60 Hz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 5 days
|
|
| Frequency | 60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 2 days |
| Exposure source | |
|---|---|
| Setup | a pair of Helmholtz coils embedded in an open rectangular frame (140x85x70 cm3), with each coil having 200 turns of an insulated soft copper wire with a diameter of 1 mm; each winding was split, allowing the current to flow in the same direction through each half of the winding (field adding); non-magnetic cage was placed at the center; temperature was 25±2°C |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 2 mT | effective value | measured | - | at the center of the cage |
| magnetic flux density | 1.8 mT | effective value | measured | - | at the edges of the cage |
| Frequency | 60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 5 days |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 2 mT | effective value | measured | - | at the center of the cage |
| magnetic flux density | 1.8 mT | effective value | measured | - | at the edges of the cage |
Regarding the biogenic amine neurotransmitters, the level of norepinephrine was significantly decreased and the level of vanillylmandelic acid was significantly increased in all brain regions except for the cortex in both exposure groups compared to the sham exposure. The level of serotonin was significantly increased in group 3 (5 days exposure) in the striatum and thalamus compared to sham exposure. The level of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was significantly increased in the striatum and hippocampus in group 3 and in the thalamus in groups 2 (2 days exposure) and 3 compared to sham exposure. The dopamine level was significantly increased in the thalamus in group 3 compared to sham exposure.
The following amino acid neurotransmitters levels showed significant alterations in the named brain regions in group 3 compared to sham exposure: aspartic acid decreased in the cortex, glutamate increased in the thalamus, glutamine decreased in the cortex and cerebellum and increased in the striatum and thalamus, glycine decreased in the cortex and hippocampus and increased in the striatum and thalamus, taurine decreased in the cortex and hippocampus, tyrosine increased in the thalamus and gamma aminobutyric acid decreased in the cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus and increased in the striatum and thalamus.
The nitric oxide level was significantly increased in the striatum in groups 2 and 3 and additionally in the thalamus and hippocampus solely in group 3 compared to sham exposure.
The authors conclude that an exposure of rats to a 60 Hz magnetic field could change the level of various neurotransmitters and nitric oxide in the brain.
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