Biological effects of long-duration, high-field (4 T) MRI on growth and development in the mouse.
The effects of long-duration, high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on fetal growth and postnatal development in mice were studied. Seven experimental groups of pregnant ICR mice were exposed for 9 hours on day 9 and/or day 12 post coitus (pc) to magnetic fields (4 T static, 5 T/sec switched gradient, and 0.2 W/kg radiofrequency at 170 MHz) associated with MRI conditions. Two experimental groups (sham and exposure groups) were exposed to a combination of ultrasound (day 9 pc, 3.25 MHz, focused) and MRI-associated fields (day 12 pc). No statistically significant changes in fetal growth were observed in the animals exposed to only MRI or ultrasound fields. However, in the combined ultrasound and MRI-exposed group, the fetal weight and crown-rump length were reduced compared with the sham and cage controls. These results suggest that MRI and ultrasound exposure well in excess of current clinical conditions can exert biological effects if applied at sensitive stages of fetal development.
Magnetic Resonance Engineering Laboratory, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, USA. rmagin@uic.edu
R L
RL
Magin
J K
JK
Lee
A
A
Klintsova
K I
KI
Carnes
F
F
Dunn
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012016:Reference Values; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors