Growth variations in OF1 mice following chronic exposure of parental and filial generations to a 15 μT, 50 Hz magnetic field.

The growth of a first filial generation (F1) of OF1 mice was studied following chronic exposure of their mothers and themselves to a magnetic field of 15 mu T (rms) and 50 Hz. The parental generation (F0) remained for 98 days in this field, after that time they were mated, went through pregnancy, birth, lactation, and the weaning of their offspring in this field. The latter remained exposed to this field until reaching adulthood (220 days). Control animals were treated in the same way but were exposed only to the Earth's magnetic field. The growth data for the offspring were analyzed using a generalization of Koop's equation. Using this model, four phases were identified: lactation growth acceleration, post-weaning growth acceleration, growth stabilization, and a stationary phase. Exposure to the artificial magnetic field was associated with a marked increase in maximum growth rate in the exposed animals during the post-weaning growth acceleration phase, and with a reduction in mass gain in the F1 mice (especially in males) during the third of these phases. In addition, the growth stabilization phase was more extended in exposed females and shorter in exposed males than in the control animals. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were seen between the mean body masses of exposed and control F1 males from 49-123 days. Exposure to the artificial magnetic field might have been associated with the stimulated growth rate seen over the noticeably shortened second and third growth phases (leaving these animals lighter by the stationary phase compared to controls) and a possible acceleration of aging. Both processes could be responsible for the stationary phase being reached at an earlier age, especially in males.