Maturation and Open-Field Behavior in Rats Exposed Prenatally to an ELF Low-Intensity Rotating Magnetic Field

Abstract

Rats that had been exposed continuously during their prenatal development to a 3 to 12 gauss, 0.5-Hz rotating magnetic field (RMF) were significantly retarded, in comparison to the control group, in time of eye opening ( p < .01) and time of teeth eruption ( p < .01) but did not differ significantly in maturation of startle response. RMF-exposed animals traversed significantly fewer squares than their controls in an open-field situation ( p < .01), but defecated ( p < .05) and urinated ( p < .01) significantly more often, as well as entering the center circle in the open field significantly less often ( p < .01). There was no significant difference in the number of rearing responses for the two groups. Reference is made to Ludwig's mathematical hypothesis concerning the absorption mechanism of ELF-waves in the nervous system.