Reproduction and development in rats chronologically exposed to 60-Hz electric fields

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250080304· OSTI ID:5844279

Rommereim, D N; Kaune, W T; Buschbom, R L; Phillips, R D; Sikov, M R

Previous studies have raised the possibility of reproductive and developmental changes in miniature swine chronically exposed to a strong 60-Hz electric field. Two replicate experiments on rats were performed to determine if similar changes could be detected in animals exposed under a comparable regime, which was based on average, induced-current densities and on the chronology of reproductive development, as dosimetrically and biologically scaled. Beginning at three months of age, female rats of the F0 generation and their subsequent offspring were chronically exposed to a 60-Hz electric field (100 kV/m unperturbed) for 19 h/day for the duration of experimentation. After four weeks of exposure, F0 female rats were mated to unexposed male rats during the field-off period. No significant developmental effects were detected in their litters, confirming our previous results with swine and rats. The F0 females were mated for a second time at 7.2 months of age, and the fetuses were evaluated shortly before term. In the first experiments, the incidence of intrauterine mortality was significantly less in exposed than in sham-exposed litters, and there was a tendency (P = .12) for an increased incidence of malformed fetuses in exposed litters. Neither end point was significantly affected in the second experiment. Copulatory behavior of the female F1 offspring, which were bred at three months of age, was not affected in either experiment. There was a statistically significant decrease in the fertility of F1 exposed females and a significant increase in the fraction of exposed litters with malformed fetuses in the first experiment; both end points were essentially the same in the sham and exposed groups of the second experiment. That the significant effects detected in the first experiment were not seen in the second may be attributed to random or biological variation.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA
• OSTI ID: 5844279
• Journal Information: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 8:3; ISSN BLCTD
• 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.
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
FETUSES
GROWTH
LITTER SIZE
MALFORMATIONS
MAMMALS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RATS
REPRODUCTION
RODENTS
TERATOGENESIS
VERTEBRATES