Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Magnetosensory function in rats: localization using positron emission tomography. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To show that electromagnetic fields produce magnetosensory evoked potentials in rats and to localize the activated region in the brain.
Background/further details:
The authors wanted to extend results from previous studies on magnetosensory evoked potentials in humans (publication 15027) and rabbits (publication 9242).
In the first experiment, 10 female rats were exposed to a magnetic field. In a second experiment, the effect of the magnetic field on the regional rate of glucose uptake was analyzed in another group of 10 rats using PET. Each rat was scanned twice: after field exposure and after sham exposure.

Endpoint

• effects on the neurological system: magnetosensory evoked potentials; neuroanatomical localization

Exposure
General category: magnetic field, low frequency field, 50/60 Hz (AC)

Field characteristics	Parameters
60 Hz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: 45 min	magnetic flux density: 0.25 mT

Exposed system:
animal (species/strain): rat/Sprague-Dawley
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• effects on the neurological system: onset- and offset- magnetosensory evoked potentials (EEG); neuroanatomical localization (fluorodeoxyglucose uptake: PET)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
Onset magnetosensory evoked potentials were detected in all 10 rats, and offset magnetosensory evoked potentials were detected in 7 of the 10 rats.The magnetosensory evoked potentials were similar in magnitude, latency and dynamical origin to those exhibited by rabbits (see publication 9242) and humans (see publication 15027). Exposure to the magnetic field stimulated cerebellar uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose compared to the sham exposure in the same animals. The activated region was located in the posterior central cerebellum.
The results indicated that magnetosensory evoked potentials in rats were associated with increased glucose utilization in the cerebellum, thereby supporting earlier evidence that electromagnetic field transduction occurred in the brain.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study)

Study funded by

• not stated/none

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