[The thyroid and adrenal glands in rats chronically exposed to an intense electric field]

Two month-old male Long-Evans rats were exposed for 8 hours a day during 4 weeks to an ambient electric field (50 kV/m). The growth rate of electric field-exposed rats was identical to the controls' one. No significant effect of exposure was observed on the levels of various hormones: plasma and adrenal corticosterone; plasma TSH, ACTH, T3 and T4; adrenal epinephrine and norepinephrine. Histological studies of thyroïd and adrenals showed a normal appearance. In adrenals, the levels of various components and the activities of enzymes which have a role on steroïdogenesis were not modified. It is concluded that, in the present experiment conditions, the daily exposure of the rat to a severe electric field does not affect the normal state of thyroïd and adrenals.