Relationship between field strength and arousal response in mice exposed to 60-Hz electric fields
White-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, were exposed to 60-Hz electric fields to study the relationship between field strength and three measures of the transient arousal response previously reported to occur with exposures at 100 kV/m. Five groups of 12 mice each were given a series of four 1-h exposures, separated by an hour, with each group exposed at one of the following field strengths: 75, 50, 35, 25, and 10 kV/m; 8 additional mice were sham-exposed with no voltage applied to the field generator. All mice were experimentally naive before the start of the experiment, and all exposures occurred during the inactive (lights-on) phase of the circadian cycle. The first exposure produced immediate increases in arousal measures, but subsequent exposures had no significant effect on any measure. These arousal responses were defined by significant increases of gross motor activity, carbon dioxide production, and oxygen consumption, and were frequently recorded with field strengths of 50 kV/m or higher. Significant arousal responses rarely occurred with exposures at lower field strengths. Responses of mice exposed at 75 and 50 kV/m were similar to previously described transient arousal responses in mice exposed to 100-kV/m electric fields. Less than half of the mice in each of the field strength groups below 50 kV/m showed arousal response based on Z (standard) scores, but the arousals of the mice that did respond were similar to those of mice exposed at higher field strengths. Polynomial regression was used to calculate the field strength producing the greatest increases for each of the arousal measures. The results show that the amplitude of the transient arousal response is related to the strength of the electric field, but different measures of arousal may have different relationships to field strength.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6345999
- Journal Information:
- Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Biomedical effects associated with energy-transmission systems: effects of 60-Hz electric fields on circadian and ultradian physiological and behavioral functions in small rodents. Period covered: January 1, 1980-December 31, 1980
Initial studies on the effects of combined 60 Hz electric and magnetic field exposure on the immune system of nonhuman primates
Related Subjects
ELECTRIC FIELDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
HVAC SYSTEMS
MICE
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SENSITIVITY
AC SYSTEMS
ANIMALS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FUNCTIONS
MAMMALS
POWER SYSTEMS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects