Effect of negative air ions upon emotionality and brain serotonin levels in isolated rats

Acute exposure of rats to air ions: Effects on the regional concentration and utilization of serotonin in brain

“…The reason for the discrepancy between their findings and ours is not clear. One could hypothesize that mice and not rats are sensitive to air ions; however, this explanation is inconsistent with other studies that reported a reduction in the 5HT content of rat brain with exposure to negative ions [Gilbert, 1973;Diamond et al, 19801. A more likely possibility is that Krueger's ion exposure conditions in the Kruger and Kotada study produced small environmental disturbances (ie, possible spark discharges between the animal and the cage because of static charge that had accumulated on the animal's fur or the plastic walls of the chamber).…”

Environmental and social impacts of electricity utilization: broadening the debate

“…The timing of ion exposure in Krueger's experiments is unclear however (Krueger and Kotaka 1969, p. 33), and some treatments may have ended 4 h after the onset of darkness. Decreases in brain serotonin in rats after 3 weeks of continuous negative ion exposure in lucite containers were reported by Diamond et al (1980); and after 100 days of continuous negative ion treatment in wooden exposure chambers, by Gilbert (1973) who also reported reduced body weight increases. The ion exposure chambers used in this study had individual incandescent lamps providing illumination for 16 h daily.…”

Further observations on the effect of air ions on influenza in the mouse

“…This a p p e a r s to be p a r t of a g e n e r a l s y s t e m i c p h e n o m e n o n for blood l e v e l s of s e r o t o n i u a r e influenced by the a i r ion content of :the a t m o s p h e r e (Krueger, A n d r i e s e and Kotaka, 1968;Gilbert, 1971;Olivereau, 1971) Gara~tini and Valzelli, 1965). The r e d u c t i o n in c o n c e n t r a t i o n of s e r o t o n i n in the t i s s u e s of the r e s p i r a t o r y t r a c t is explicable on the b a s i s of in vftro exp e r i m e n t s conducted with a modified K e i l i n -H a r t r e e p i g -h e a r t h o m o g e n a t e ( K r u e g e r and Smith, 1959)…”