Influence of EMP on the nervous system of rats.

Wu Y, Jia Y, Guo Y, Zheng Z

ACTA Biophysica Sinica 15:152-157, 1999

To explore the effects of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) exposure on the nervous system of rats, Wistar rats were divided into four groups: three exposure groups and one normal control group. The measurement of ability of learning of rats was carried out with a y-maze, followed by the detection of the content of neurotransmitters in different areas of cerebrum.

Compared with control group, in the following three days of EMP exposure, the ability of learning of exposed groups was decreased (P< 0.05). For one day group, in hippocampus, the content of 5-HT and DOPAC increased (P< 0.05), and in hypothalamus, the content of dopamine increased (P< 0.05), while the content of Adr decreased (p< 0.05). the content of Adr and 5-HT in hippocampus of the second day group was reduced (P< 0.05). the content of Adr in hippocampus of the third day group was still lower than that of control group (P< 0.05).

According to the results above, we can conclude that EMP exposure results in changes of the content of neurotransmitters in different cerebral areas of rats, lowering their ability of learning.