Chronic exposure to a 60‐Hz electric field: Effects on neuromuscular function in the rat
- 1 January 1981
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Bioelectromagnetics
- Vol. 2 (3), 227-239
- https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250020304
Abstract
Neuromuscular function in adult male rats was studied following 30 days of exposure to a 60‐Hz electric field at 100 kV/m (unperturbed field strength). Isometric force transducers were attached to the tendons of the plantaris (predominantly fast twitch), and soleus (predominantly slow twitch) muscles in the urethan‐anesthetized rat. Square‐wave stimuli were delivered to the distal stump of the transected sciatic nerve. Several measurements were used to characterize neuromuscular function, including twitch characteristics, chronaxie, tetanic and posttetanic potentiation, and fatigue and recovery. The results from three independent series of experiments are reported. Only recovery from fatigue in slow‐twitch muscles was consistently and significantly affected (enhanced) by electrifield exposure. This effect does not appear to be mediated by field‐induced changes in either neuromuscular transmission, or in the contractile mechanism itself. It is suggested that the effect may be mediated secondary to an effect on mechanisms regulating muscle blood flow or metabolism.Keywords
This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit:
- General properties of the interaction between animals and ELF electric fieldsBioelectromagnetics, 1981
- Interactive effects in 60‐HZ electric‐field exposure systemsBioelectromagnetics, 1981
- Comparison of the coupling of grounded humans, swine and rats to vertical, 60‐Hz electric fieldsBioelectromagnetics, 1980
- Chronic exposure to a 60‐Hz electric field: Effects on synaptic transmission and peripheral nerve function in the ratBioelectromagnetics, 1980
- Isometric endurance in fast and slow muscles in the catAmerican Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 1979
- Basis for posttetanic potentiation at the mammalian neuromuscular junctionAmerican Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content, 1974
- HINDLIMB MUSCLE FIBER POPULATIONS OF FIVE MAMMALSJournal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, 1973
- Fatigue and neuromuscular block in mammalian skeletal muscleProceedings of the Royal Society of London. B. Biological Sciences, 1949