The influences of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on clonidine-induced sleep in 2-day-old chicks

Static magnetic field blocked alprazolam-induced behavior of Wistar rats in the elevated plus-maze test

Studies have shown that psychotropic drugs change rat behavior in the elevated plus-maze test (EPM). This study investigated whether static magnetic fields could alter alprazolam-induced rat behavior in the EPM. 66 male Wistar rats (270-300 g weight) were assigned to one of the following groups: Sham Magnetic + Saline (SMS), North Pole + Saline (NPS), South Pole + Saline (SPS), Sham magnetic + alprazolam (SMA), NP + alprazolam (NPA), and SP + alprazolam (SPA). After five days of static magnetic stimulation (3200 Gauss), they received alprazolam or saline (1 mg/kg), and their behavior was evaluated. Two-way ANOVA and Holm-Sidak post-hock were used, with a significant P value of <0.05. The SMA and NPA groups showed an increased number of entries and time in the open arms compared with the SMS group. SPA showed a decrease in these measures when compared to SMA [F(2,61) = 6.43 and F(2,61) = 3.72, respectively]. The SMA and NPA groups showed increased head dipping and end-arm activity compared with the SMS group. SPA showed a decrease in these measures when compared to SMA [F(2,61) = 3.37 and [F(2,61) = 4.72, respectively]. These results show that the south magnetic pole of a static magnetic field blocked the alprazolam effect in the space-time variables of the open arms and ethological anxiolytic-like behavior in the EPM.

Emerging synergisms between drugs and physiologically-patterned weak magnetic fields: implications for neuropharmacology and the human population in the twenty-first century

Synergisms between pharmacological agents and endogenous neurotransmitters are familiar and frequent. The present review describes the experimental evidence for interactions between neuropharmacological compounds and the classes of weak magnetic fields that might be encountered in our daily environments. Whereas drugs mediate their effects through specific spatial (molecular) structures, magnetic fields mediate their effects through specific temporal patterns. Very weak (microT range) physiologically-patterned magnetic fields synergistically interact with drugs to strongly potentiate effects that have classically involved opiate, cholinergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic, and nitric oxide pathways. The combinations of the appropriately patterned magnetic fields and specific drugs can evoke changes that are several times larger than those evoked by the drugs alone. These novel synergisms provide a challenge for a future within an electromagnetic, technological world. They may also reveal fundamental, common physical mechanisms by which magnetic fields and chemical reactions affect the organism from the level of fundamental particles to the entire living system.

The influences of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on drug-induced convulsion in mouse

This study investigated the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) on the sensitivity of seizure response to bicuculline, picrotoxin and NMDA in mice. The mice were exposed to either a sham or 20 G ELF-MFs for 24 hours. Convulsants were then administered i.p. at various doses. The seizure induction time and duration were measured and lethal dose (LD50) and convulsant dose (CD50) of the clonic and tonic convulsion were calculated. The analysis of glutamate, glycine, taurine and GABA of mouse brain was accomplished by HPLC. The mice exposed to ELF-MFs showed moderately higher CD50, LD50 and onset time on the bicuculline-induced seizure. However, the ELF-MFs did not influence them in the NMDA and picrotoxin-induced seizures. After the exposure to MFs exposure, the glutamate level was increased and GABA was decreased significantly in NMDA and picrotoxin-induced seizure. The level of glutamate and GABA were not changed by MFs in bicuculline-induced seizure. These results suggest that ELF-MFs may alter the convulsion susceptibility through GABAergic mechanism with the involvement of the level of glutamate and GABA.