Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of exposure to a 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field during the early adolescent period on spatial memory in mice med./bio.

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2013; 34 (4): 275-284

Aim of study (acc. to author)

In the present study early adolescent mice were used as a model to investigate the potential effects of chronic exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field during this developmental stage on some aspects of cognitive function.

Background/further details

16 mice were exposed from postnatal days 23-35 to a 50 Hz magnetic field for 60 min/day. On postnatal days 36-45, the potential effects of the magnetic field exposure on spatial memory performance were examined. 17 mice were sham exposed. Only 22 mice (n=11 each group) were used in the Morris water maze task.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 60 min/day from postnatal days 23 to 35

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 60 min/day from postnatal days 23 to 35
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup 70 cm x 40 cm x 43 cm plastic frame was wrapped with 4 horizontal layers with 250 turns each, forming a single coil with a 60 cm x 30 cm x 43 cm exposure area inside; mice placed in a 50 cm x 25 cm x 25 cm plastic box in this exposure area; field variation inside the plastic box: ± 4.5 %; exposure system placed in a room with a constant temperature of 30°C
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 2 mT - measured - -

Reference articles

  • Sun H et al. (2010): Effects of prenatal exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field on one-trial passive avoidance learning in 1-day-old chicks
  • Fu Y et al. (2008): Long-term exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields impairs spatial recognition memory in mice
  • Wang X et al. (2008): Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure during chronic morphine treatment strengthens downregulation of dopamine D2 receptors in rat dorsal hippocampus after morphine withdrawal
  • Liu T et al. (2008): Chronic exposure to low-intensity magnetic field improves acquisition and maintenance of memory
  • Lei Y et al. (2005): Effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on morphine-induced conditioned place preferences in rats

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that the magnetic field exposure did not affect Y-maze performance, but improved spatial learning acquisition and memory retention in the Morris water maze task (exposed mice learned to locate the platform faster than sham-exposed mice).

Study character:

Study funded by

Related articles