Marked rapid alterations in nocturnal pineal serotonin metabolism in mice and rats exposed to weak intermittent magnetic fields

Journal Article · Thu May 31 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-291X(90)91439-Y· OSTI ID:7061568

Lerchl, A; Nonaka, K O; Stokkan, K A; Reiter, R J ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio (USA)

Adult AMES mice and male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to an artificial magnetic field, generated by Helmholtz coils. 3.5 hours after the onset of darkness the coils were activated for one hour resulting in an inversion of the horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field. The coils were activated and deactivated at 5 min intervals during the 1 hour exposure period. In both mice and rats, the levels of serotonin in the pineal were markedly increased by the exposure. In rats, an increase of pineal 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and a decrease of the activity of the pineal enzyme serotonin-N-acetyltransferase also was observed. However, pineal and serum melatonin levels were not altered. The results indicate that the metabolism of serotonin in the pineal is quickly affected by the exposure of animals to a magnetic field.

• OSTI ID: 7061568
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications; (USA), Vol. 169:1; ISSN 0006-291X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PINEAL GLAND
SENSITIVITY
SEROTONIN
METABOLISM
MELATONIN
MICE
RATS
TRANSFERASES
AMINES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
AZAARENES
AZOLES
BODY
DRUGS
ENZYMES
GLANDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDOLES
MAMMALS
NEUROREGULATORS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PYRROLES
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RODENTS
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
TRYPTAMINES
VERTEBRATES
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects