ISSN:
1432-1254
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geography
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract In a factorial design, 40 male 200-day-old rats that had been exposed from 2.5 days before to 2.5 days after birth to either 0.5 Hz rotating magnetic fields (RMFs) between 10−3T to 10−6T or to sham fields and maintained after weaning in one of two typical caging conditions were exposed as adults to either one of three 0.5 Hz RMF intensities (10−6T, 10−7T or 10−8T) or to sham fields or to colony room control conditions. The numbers of mast cells (MCs/mm2) were determined for thymus tissues stained with thionin and toluidine blue. Thymuses from adult rats that had been perinatally exposed to the RMF displayed a marginally significant 20% to 35% elevation in MC numbers relative to sham-field controls. However the adult exposures did not sïgnificantlÿ affect the MC numbers. The two postweaning caging conditions, a non-magnetic field comparator variable, induced a significant 35% difference in MC numbers. The absence of sïgnificant perinatal by adult RMF exposure interactions indicated that early magnetic field exposure did not alter adult thymus responsivity to weaker but more natural intensity levels.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01552892
