title: Effects of exposure to static magnetic field on motor skills and iron levels in plasma and brain of rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present work investigated the behavioural and biochemistry effects of moderate exposure to a static magnetic field (SMF) in rats. SMF effects were evaluated in sham- and SMF-exposed rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult Wistar rats were exposed for 1 hour per day for 5 consecutive days to 128 millitesla (mT) SMF. Then, their motor skills were tested using a Stationary beam and Suspended string test. Iron level in plasma and brain (i.e. frontal cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus and cerebellum) was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant change was observed between sham and SMF-exposed rats in the Stationary beam and Suspended string test. However, the same treatment induced an increase in plasma transferrin content (+25.4%) and decreased the iron level in plasma (-16.2%). The SMF treatment failed to alter the iron concentration in the brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that SMF exposure induced iron deficiency in plasma but did not induce motor-skills deficit.
authors.affiliation: Carthage University, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Laboratory of Integrative Physiology, Jarzouna, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Miryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elferchichi
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ammari
authors.forename: Karima
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maaroufi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakly
authors.forename: Hafedh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdelmelek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007501:Iron