Magnetic field exposure during gestation: pineal and cerebral cortex serotonin in the rat

Extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields seem to have a reproducible influence on cells in transitional states, such as cells during the embryonic and early postnatal periods. Intense and continuous serotonergic synaptic growth is present during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development, paralleled by 5-HT content in the brain, so, the effect of ELF on 5-HT content in the cerebral cortex and pineal gland was determined in growing rats exposed during pregnancy, and in normal controls. The results showed a significant 5-HT increase at birth, 15 and 21 days, in the cerebral cortex. No differences were found in the pineal gland. These short MF exposures had a long term effect on cerebral cortex 5-HT, possibly starting since the fetal period. The relevance of the present findings are discussed as related to the serotonin trophic role on the brain cortex.