Effects of magnetic field exposure on fertilization success in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri.
The sensitivity of trout ova and sperm to 1-T magnetic fields was investigated. It was determined that 1) overall test results combining seven independent Z-statistics demonstrated a significant (alpha less than 0.0001) enhancement of fertilization when ova alone were exposed to the magnetic field prior to fertilization; 2) similarly, overall test results combining Z-statistics from eight independent experiments indicated a significant (alpha less than 0.0004) enhancement when sperm alone were exposed; and 3) statistical analysis of nine independent experiments confirmed enhanced fertilization (alpha less than 0.0001) when both ova and sperm were exposed to the magnetic field prior to fertilization. Although these data indicated that both ova and sperm were sensitive to magnetic fields, simultaneous exposure of both gametes did not have a greater total effect on fertilization rate than the sum of their individual effects.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum; D012487:Salmonidae / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa; D014337:Trout / Q000502:physiology*