Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Behavioral effects of high-strength static magnetic fields on rats med./bio.

Published in: J Neurosci 2003; 23 (4): 1498-1505

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether the behavioral effects (locomotor activity, taste aversion) of static magnetic fields are dependent on field strength, duration of exposure, and orientation with the field, rats were restrained within the bore of 7 or 14 Tesla superconducting magnets for variable durations.

Background/further details

Data of previous experiments (see publication 145) were included for comparison.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1:
Exposure duration: 30 min
Exposure 2:
Exposure duration: up to 30 min

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Exposure duration 30 min
Additional info Static magnetic field.
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup rats restrained head up within the bore of superconducting magnets with the help of a Plexiglas restraining tube (56 mm/ 64 mm inner/outer diameter).
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 7 T unspecified - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Exposure duration up to 30 min
Additional info Static magnetic field.
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup rats restrained head up within the vertical bore of superconducting magnets with the help of a Plexiglas restraining tube (56 mm/ 64 mm inner/outer diameter).
Additional info In a separate series experiments some rats were exposed with their heads down in the vertical PVC tube for 30 min at 0 T or 14 T.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 14 T unspecified - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Magnetic field exposure at either 7 or 14 Tesla suppressed rearing (one or two forepaws on the side of the cage) and induced tight circling. The direction of the circling was dependent on the animal's orientation within the magnetic field: if exposed head-up, rats circled counterclockwise; if exposed head-down, animals circled clockwise.
Conditioned taste aversion was induced after three pairings (on three consecutive days) of "taste (glucose + saccharin solution) and 30 min of 7 Tesla exposure" or after a single pairing of "glucose + saccharin solution and 1 min of 14 Tesla exposure".
These data suggest that magnetic field exposure has graded effects on rat behavior. The authors hypothesize that restraint with high-strength magnetic fields causes vestibular stimulation resulting in locomotor circling and conditioned taste aversion acquisition.

Study character:

Study funded by

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