Perinatal exposure to 60‐Hz electric fields: Effects on the development of the visual‐evoked response in rats

Abstract

Two independent series of experiments were performed on 114 male Sprague-Dawleyderived, albino rat pups, which represented 61 litters in experimental series I and 53 litters in experimental series 11. Animals were exposed for 20 h/day from conception to testing (postnatal days 11-20) to a vertical, 65-kV/m, 60-Hz electric field or sham-exposed.Recordings of the visual-evoked response (VER) were obtained using a small silver ball elcctrode placed epidurally over the visual cortex. Visual stimuli consisted of 10-ps light flashes delivered at 0.2 Hz. Computer-averaged VERs were obtained and power spectral analyses (fast Fourier transform) were performed on the tapered (split cosine-bell window), averaged VERs. The expected age-related changes were clearly evident; however, a detailed analysis of VER component latencies, peak-to-peak amplitude, and power spectra failed to reveal any consistent, statistically significant effect of exposure to 60-Hz electric fields.

A replication study of human exposure to 60‐Hz fields: Effects on neurobehavioral measures

“…Few laboratories have used ERP measures as an endpoint for studies of ELF field effects. Jaffe et al [1983] reported that exposure of rats to a 65-kV/m field from conception to 20 days of age had little effect on the development of the VERP. Dowman et al [1989] exposed monkeys at three levels of combined electric and magnetic fields and evaluated the early sensory components of the visual, auditory, and somatosensory ERPs.…”

Electrical and Biological Effects of Transmission Lines: A Review.

“…Later studies at Battelle included the use of a sensitive visual-evoked response test to detect possible subtle effects of an electric field on the developing nervous system of the rat (Jaffe et al 1983). Continuous exposure of rats to a 65-kV/m field from conception to 20 days of age did not affect nervous system development.…”