The influence of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field on the basal ganglia structures of the rat brain

Abstract

We studied the influence of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF) to subcortical structures of a brain, i.e. basal ganglia, of sexually mature rats of Wistar strain. The animals were exposed to nonhomogenous ELF EMF, intensity of 50-500 μT, 50 Hz frequency, 7 hours a day, and 5 days a week during three months. Histological and stereological analysis established a reduction in volume density of ganglia cells in the area of basal ganglia, an increase of their nucleo-cytoplasmatic volume ratio, and presence of an intensive edema of pericellular (perineural) type