title: Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field on anxiety level and spatial memory of adult rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As the widespread use of electric devices in modern life, human are exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) much more frequently than ever. Over the past decades, a substantial number of epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated that ELF MF (50 Hz) exposure is associated with increased risk of various health effects. The present study examined the effects of chronic exposure to ELF MF on anxiety level and spatial memory of adult rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 50-Hz ELF MF was used during the whole experimental procedures and the value of magnetic field (MF) was set to 2 mT. Adult rats were divided randomly to control, MF 1 hour and MF 4 hours group. Anxiety-related behaviors were examined in the open field test and the elevated plus maze; changes in spatial learning and memory were determined in Morris water maze after 4 weeks of daily exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rats in MF 4 hours group had increased anxiety-like behaviors with unaltered locomotor activity. In the Morris water maze test, rats had reduced latency to find the hidden platform and improved long-term memory of former location of platform without changes in short-term memory and locomotor activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic ELF MF exposure has anxiogenic effect on rats, and the promoting effects on spatial learning and long-term retention of spatial memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China. alihe2009@126.com
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Tong-Tong
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ying-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Kang-Ping
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley