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Chronic exposure to a 60-Hz electric field: effects on neuromuscular function in the rat

Journal Article · · Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States)
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Neuromuscular function in adult male rats was studied following 30 days of exposure to a 60-Hz electric field at 100 kV/m (unperturbed field strength). Isometric force transducters were attached to the tendons of the plantaris (predominantly fast twitch), and soleus (predominantly slow twitch) muscles in the urethan-anesthetized rat. Square-wave stimuli were delivered to the distal stump of the transected sciatic nerve. Several measurements were used to characterize neuromuscular function, including twitch characteristics, chronaxie, tetanic and posttetanic potentiation, and fatigue and recovery. The results from three independent series of experiments are reported. Only recovery from fatigue in slow-twitch muscles was consistently and significantly affected (enhanced) by electric-field exposure. This effect does not appear to be mediated by field-induced changes in either neuromuscular transmission, or in the contractile mechanism itself. It is suggested that the effect may be mediated secondary to an effect on mechanisms regulating muscle blood flow or metabolism.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
5399876
Journal Information:
Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 2; ISSN BLCTD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (8)

Basis for posttetanic potentiation at the mammalian neuromuscular junction journal July 1974
Chronic exposure to a 60-Hz electric field: Effects on synaptic transmission and peripheral nerve function in the rat journal January 1980
Interactive effects in 60-HZ electric-field exposure systems journal January 1981
Comparison of the coupling of grounded humans, swine and rats to vertical, 60-Hz electric fields journal January 1980
General properties of the interaction between animals and ELF electric fields journal January 1981
Isometric endurance in fast and slow muscles in the cat journal May 1979
Fatigue and neuromuscular block in mammalian skeletal muscle
  • Brown, George Lindor; Burns, Benedict Delisle
  • Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B - Biological Sciences, Vol. 136, Issue 883, p. 182-195 https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1949.0018
journal June 1949
Hindlimb Muscle Fiber Populations of five Mammals journal January 1973

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Related Subjects

551000 -- Physiological Systems
560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BLOOD FLOW
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FUNCTIONS
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
MUSCLES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
RATS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES