Melatonin secretion and puberty in female lambs exposed to environmental electric and magnetic fields

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Biology of Reproduction; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod49.4.857· OSTI ID:5505956

Lee, Jr, J M; Stormshak, F; Thompson, J M; Thinesen, P; Painter, L J; Olenchek, E G; Hess, D L; Forbes, R; Foster, D L ^[1]

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1. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (United States)

This study determined whether chronic exposure of female lambs to the electric and magnetic fields (EMF) of a high voltage transmission line can alter pineal secretion of melatonin and the normal occurrence of puberty. Twenty female Suffolk lambs were assigned randomly in equal numbers to a control and a treatment group. Treatment from 2 to 10 mo of age consisted of continuous exposure within the electrical environment of a 500-kV transmission line (mean electric field 6 kV/m, mean magnetic field 40 mG). Treated lambs were penned directly beneath the transmission line; control lambs were maintained in a pen of similar construction 229 m from the line where EMF were at ambient levels (mean electric field < 10 V/m, mean magnetic field < 0.3 mG). Melatonin was analyzed by RIA in serum of blood samples collected at 0.5-3-h intervals over eight 48-h periods. To assess attainment of puberty, serum concentrations of progesterone were determined by RIA from blood samples collected twice weekly beginning at 19 wk of age. Concentrations of circulating melatonin in control and treated lambs were low during daylight hours and increased during nighttime hours. The characteristic pattern of melatonin secretion during nighttime (amplitude, phase, and duration) did not differ between control and treatment groups. Age at puberty and number of subsequent estrous cycles also did not differ between groups. These data suggest that chronic exposure of developing female sheep to 60-Hz environmental EMF does not affect the mechanisms underlying the generation of the circadian pattern of melatonin secretion or the mechanisms involved in the onset of reproductive activity.

• OSTI ID: 5505956
• Journal Information: Biology of Reproduction; (United States), Journal Name: Biology of Reproduction; (United States) Vol. 49:4; ISSN 0006-3363; ISSN BIREBV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMINES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
AZAARENES
AZOLES
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
BODY
CHEMISTRY
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DAILY VARIATIONS
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
ESTROUS CYCLE
FEMALES
GLANDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HORMONES
INDOLES
KETONES
LIFE CYCLE
MAMMALS
MELATONIN
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PINEAL GLAND
PREGNANES
PROGESTERONE
PYRROLES
RUMINANTS
SECRETION
SHEEP
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TRYPTAMINES
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES