Effects of electromagnetic fields on the levels of biogenic amine metabolites, quinolinic acid, and beta-endorphin in the cerebrospinal fluid of dairy cows.
Eight multiparous non-lactating pregnant Holstein cows at 198 +/- 35 d of gestation, weighing 608 +/- 24 kg, were confined to wooden metabolic cages in an electric and magnetic field chamber with a 12:12 h light:dark cycle. Subarachnoidal catheters were installed 5 d before the activation of the electric and magnetic fields. The cows were exposed to electric and magnetic fields (60 Hz, 10 kV/m and 30 microT) continuously except for the feeding and cleaning time for an average of 21.44 +/- 1.4 h per day for a period of 30 d. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected on three consecutive days before an exposure period of 30 d, on the last 3 d of the exposure period, and for 3 d starting 5 d after the exposure period. The concentrations of beta-endorphin, tryptophan, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol and quinolinic acid in cerebrospinal fluid were determined. There was a significant increase in quinolinic acid, and a trend towards an increase in tryptophan, findings consistent with a weakening of the blood-brain barrier due to exposure to the electric and magnetic fields.
Burchard
J F
JF
Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte Anne de Bellevue, Québec, Canada.
Nguyen
D H
DH
Richard
L
L
Young
S N
SN
Heyes
M P
MP
Block
E
E
D000818:Animals; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002417:Cattle / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D003612:Dairying; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D017378:Quinolinic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D001679:Biogenic Amines; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D014364:Tryptophan; D017378:Quinolinic Acid; D006719:Homovanillic Acid