Behavioral effects of strong 60-Hz electric fields in rats

Eight individually housed male Long Evans rats were raised, beginning at age 30 days, for six weeks in an electric field exposure apparatus. During five of the six weeks, the animals were exposed to a 25 kV/m, 60-Hz electric field. A similar population of rats housed in an identical environment, except for the absence of the high voltage field, were used as control animals. Differences between the two groups in body mass, food and water intake, and exploratory activity were studied. Statistical analysis shows the high voltage fields to have no significant effects on the above parameters.