Carcinogenicity test of 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic fields in rats

Male and female F344 rats, 48 per exposure group, were sham exposed (Group A) or exposed to 0.5 (Group B) and 5 mT (Group C) magnetic fields for two years. Animals were exposed from 5–109 weeks of age in SPF conditions according to the OECD test guideline No. 451. Average exposure was 22.6 hr/day. No significant differences in body weight and food consumption were observed between the sham and exposed groups. At the end of the exposure period, survival rates of the male rats were 73, 83, and 79%, and those of the females, 77, 79, and 75% for Groups A, B, and C, respectively, with no significant differences between groups. Differential counts of leukocytes were measured at the 52nd, 78th, and 104th weeks of exposure and no significant differences were observed between the exposure groups. All survivors were euthanized on schedule, and all the organs and tissues suspected of tumoral lesions were examined histopathologically. Incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia in the male and the female rats were 5, 4, 4 and 8, 6, 7 for Groups A, B and C, respectively; incidences of malignant lymphoma in the female rats were 0, 1 and 1. Neither significant increases nor acceleration of incidence of leukemia were observed. Incidences of brain and intracranial tumors did not increase in the exposed groups. Incidences of both benign and malignant neoplasms showed no significant difference between the exposed and sham exposed groups with one exception: fibroma of the subcutis in the male rats, which was considered not to be a statistically significant when evaluated with respect to the historical control data in our laboratory. Bioelectromagnetics 18:531–540, 1997. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The effect of exposure regimen and duration on benzene-induced bone marrow damage in mice. II. Strain comparisons involving B6C3F1, C57B1/6 and DBA/2 male mice

In a companion paper (Luke et al., 1988), the effect of exposure duration and regimen on benzene induced-bone marrow damage was evaluated in male and female DBA/2 mice using the peripheral blood micronucleus assay. To assess the general applicability of the findings obtained for DBA/2 mice to other strains, similar studies were conducted using B6C3F1 and C57B1/6 male mice. An analysis of peripheral blood smears taken weekly from these mice exposed to 300 ppm benzene for 13 weeks (6 h per day) for either 5 days per week (Regimen 1) or for 3 days per week (Regimen 2) revealed: (i) a highly significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCE), the magnitude of which was strain specific (DBA/2 greater than C57B1/6 = B6C3F1), but independent of exposure regimen and, except for Regimen 2 B6C3F1 mice, of exposure duration. In male B6C3F1 mice, MN-PCE frequencies increased slightly with increasing exposure duration; (ii) a strain- (C57B1/6 = B6C3F1 greater than DBA/2) and regimen- (Regimen 1 greater than Regimen 2) dependent increase across time in the frequency of micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes (MN-NCE). Apparent steady-state conditions for MN-NCE frequencies were attained by about 5 weeks of exposure in male mice of all three strains exposed to benzene by Regimen 2. Steady-state conditions for MN-NCE frequencies in male mice exposed to benzene by Regimen 1 did not occur during the duration of the study, with strain-dependent differences in the kinetics of MN-NCE accumulation being present; and (iii) in all 3 strains, an initial severe depression in the rate of erythropoiesis, the return of which to normal levels was both strain- (C57B1/6 = B6C3F1 greater than DBA/2) and regimen- (Regimen 1 greater than Regimen 2) dependent. These data indicate that the induction of genotoxic and cytotoxic damage in the bone marrow of male mice exposed to benzene for 13 weeks can be highly dependent on strain, exposure regimen and exposure duration but that under no circumstance did the level of genotoxic damage induced by benzene decrease under multiple exposure conditions.     

Evaluation of potential health effects of 10 kHz magnetic fields: A short-term mouse toxicology study

A high-frequency inductive power distribution (HID) technology has been developed that generates sinusoidal magnetic fields at a frequency of 10 kHz. In typical industrial applications, field intensities in the order of 0.2 mT can be expected between the current-carrying coils. Because the possible health effects of 10 kHz sinusoidal magnetic fields of this type had never been investigated, a broad evaluation of possible effects on animal health was made in a preliminary 14 day acute study and in a 90 day subchronic study using male and female B6C3F1 mice. Exposures were at 0.08, 0.28, and 1.0 mT vs. a background exposure of 3.7 μT and were essentially continuous. These studies failed to demonstrate any health effects that can be clearly related to the magnetic field exposure. No changes in animal behaviour or indications of morbidity were detected during the initial exposure to the fields. There were no significant differences in body weight between exposed and unexposed (control) mice at any time in the study, and the clinical chemistry and hematology parameters were essentially unchanged. Although minor differences in some clinical chemistry and hematology parameters were seen between control and exposure groups, the lack of exposure dependence, the lack of consistency between sexes, and the lack of correspondence with the results of the two studies all suggest that these were chance associations. Even if the changes were real, the magnitude of the changes was very small and does not indicate serious biological effects. Finally, all organs were macroscopically and microscopically normal except for isolated, generally mild, histological lesions and lesions that were ascribed to fighting among males. There was no obvious association with field intensity. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Age-, gender-, and species-dependent mutagenicity in T cells of mice and rats exposed by inhalation to 1,3-butadiene

Experiments were performed: (i) to investigate potential age- and gender-dependent differences in mutagenic responses in T cells following exposures of B6C3F1 mice and F344 rats by inhalation for 2 weeks to 0 or 1250 ppm butadiene (BD), and (ii) to determine if exposures for 2 weeks to 62.5 ppm BD produce a mutagenic effect in female rats. To evaluate the effect of age on mutagenic response, mutant manifestation curves for splenic T cells of female mice exposed at 8-9 weeks of age were defined by measuring Hprt mutant frequencies (MFs) at multiple time points after BD exposure using a T cell cloning assay and comparing the resulting mutagenic potency estimate (calculated as the difference of areas under the mutant manifestation curves of treated versus control animals) to that reported for female mice exposed to BD in the same fashion beginning at 4-5 weeks of age. The shapes of the mutant T cell manifestation curves for spleens were different [e.g., the maximum BD-induced MFs in older mice (8.0+/-1.0 [S.D.]x10(-6)) and younger mice (17.8+/-6.1 x 10(-6)) were observed at 8 and 5 weeks post-exposure, respectively], but the mutagenic burden was the same for both age groups. To assess the effect of gender on mutagenic response, female and male rodents were exposed to BD at 4-5 weeks of age and Hprt MFs were measured when maximum MFs are expected to occur post-exposure. The resulting data demonstrated that the pattern for mutagenic susceptibility from high-level BD exposure is female mice>male mice>female rats>male rats. Exposures of female rats to 62.5 ppm BD caused a minor but significant mutagenic response compared with controls (n=16/group; P=0.03). These results help explain part of the differing outcomes/interpretations of data in earlier Hprt mutation studies in BD-exposed rodents.     

Influence of 60-hertz magnetic fields on leukemia

Female DBA/2 mice at 8 weeks of age were implanted with P388 leukemia cells in groups of ten mice and exposed to a 60-Hz 1.4-μT, 200-μT, or 500-μT magnetic field 2-3 hours after the implant for 6 hours daily, 5 days/week until all the exposed P388-treated and nontreated mice died. Parallel exposed groups of non-P388-treated mice and P388-treated mice exposed at 0 μT were included for study. No statistically significant differences (P > .05) in survival, spleen weight, or body weight resulted between P388-treated or nontreated mice from exposure to the magnetic field. No effect on the incidence or progression of P388 leukemia was apparent.     

寒冷对雌性C57BL/6小鼠动情周期的影响*

目的:研究寒冷对雌性C57BL/6小鼠动情周期的影响。方法:12只雌性小鼠随机分为对照组、低温组,每组6只;低温组每天4℃暴露4 h,每天阴道涂片法观察小鼠动情状况,对照组饲养于常温动物房;每2 d称量体重,2周后心脏取血、子宫和卵巢,检测小鼠血清E2、FSH、LH、Prl、P水平,进行子宫、卵巢的组织病理学检查。结果:与对照组比较,低温组小鼠体重无显著性差异(P＞0.05),小鼠子宫脏器系数明显较低、动情间期明显延长(P＜0.01),血清FSH显著升高、Prl显著降低(P＜0.01),小鼠子宫腺管扩张,卵巢卵泡数量明显减少。结论:寒冷可使雌性C57BL/6小鼠动情周期延长,进而可能影响生殖功能。     

A 60 Hz magnetic field does not affect the incidence of squamous cell carcinomas in SENCAR mice

Two groups of SENCAR mice were treated with a single dose of carcinogen and then, for 23 weeks, with a chemical tumor promoter to induce skin tumors. During this period, one group was coexposed to a 2 mT power frequency (60 Hz) magnetic field, while the other was exposed to sham conditions. Application of the tumor promoter ceased after 23 weeks, but the exposure to sham conditions or magnetic fields continued for an additional 29 weeks. No difference was found between the two groups of mice in terms of the incidence of total tumors (P =.297) or squamous cell carcinomas (SSC) (P =.501). In summary, there was no evidence to support the hypotheses that 60 Hz magnetic fields (MF) can influence the development of either papillomas or SSC under our defined experimental conditions. The overall results add to previous animal studies that find no association between exposure to 60 Hz MF and the incidence of benign or malignant tumors.     

Cancer promotion in a mouse-skin model by a 60-Hz magnetic field: II. Tumor development and immune response.

This paper describes preliminary findings on the influence of 60-Hz (2-mT) magnetic fields on tumor promotion and co-promotion in the skins of mice. The effect of magnetic fields on natural killer (NK) cell activity in spleen and blood was also examined. Groups of 32 juvenile female mice were exposed to the magnetic field as described in part I. The dorsal skin of all animals was treated with a subthreshold dose of the carcinogen 7,12-dimethyl-benz(a)anthracene (DMBA). One week after the treatment, two groups were sham exposed (group A) or field exposed at 2 mT (group B) 6 h/day for 21 weeks, to test whether the field would act as a tumor promoter. No tumors developed in these two groups of mice. To test whether the magnetic field would modify tumor development by directly affecting tumor growth or by suppressing immune surveillance, two additional groups of mice were treated weekly with the tumor promoter 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and then either sham exposed (group C) or field exposed (group D). The time to appearance of tumors was shorter (but not statistically so) in the group exposed to magnetic fields and TPA. Some differences in NK cell activity and spleen size were observed between the sham- and field-exposed groups.     

Effects of a 30 kV/m, 60 Hz electric field on the social behavior of baboons: a crossover experiment.

Using a crossover experimental design, we evaluated our earlier findings that exposure to a 30 kV/m, 60 Hz electric field for 12 hours per day, 7 days per week for 6 weeks produced significant changes in the performance rates of social behaviors among young adult male baboons. In the crossover experiment, the former control group was exposed to a 30 kV/m, 60 Hz electric field for 3 weeks. Only an extremely small, incidental magnetic field was generated by the exposure apparatus. We found that electric-field exposure again produced increases in the performance rates that index Passive Affinity, Tension, and Stereotypy. These findings, combined with results from our other electric-field experiments, indicate that exposure to strong electric fields, in the absence of associated magnetic fields, consistently produces effects that are expressed as increases in rates of performance of social behaviors in young adult male baboons.     

Circularly polarized,sinusoidal, 50 Hz magnetic field exposure does not influence plasma testosterone levels of rats

We exposed rats to circularly polarized 50 Hz magnetic fields to determine if plasma testosterone concentration was affected. Previous experiments indicate that magnetic fields suppress the nighttime rise in melatonin, suggesting that other neuroendocrine changes might occur as well. Male Wistar-King rats were exposed almost continuously for 6 weeks to magnetic flux densities of 1,5, or 50 μT. Blood samples were obtained by decapitation at 12:00 h and 24:00 h. Plasma testosterone concentration showed a significant day-night difference, with a higher level at 12:00 h when studied in July and December, but the day-night difference disappeared when concentrations were studied in April. In three experiments, magnetic field exposure had no statistically significant effect on plasma testosterone levels compared with the sham-exposed groups. These findings indicate that 6 weeks of nearly continuous exposure to circularly polarized, 50 Hz magnetic fields did not change plasma testosterone concentration in rats. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Lack of a co-promotion effect of 60 Hz rotating magnetic fields on N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea induced neurogenic tumors in F344 rats

The present study was conducted to investigate the possible effect of 60 Hz magnetic fields as promoters of brain tumors initiated transplacentally by ethylnitrosourea (ENU) in F344 rats. One hundred twenty mated animals were divided into six different groups and exposed in utero on day 18 of gestation to a single intravenous dose of either Saline (vehicle control, Group I), or ENU 10 mg/kg (Groups II-VI). In the present study, a total of 480 offspring was used. The offspring in group II were given no further treatment while the offspring in Groups III-VI were exposed to four different intensities of magnetic fields. Animals received exposure to 60 Hz magnetic field at field strengths of 0 Tesla (sham control, T1, Group III), 5 muT (T2, Group IV), 83.3 muT (T3, Group V), or 500 muT (T4, Group VI), for 21 h/day from the age of 4 weeks to the age of 32 or 42 weeks. At histopathological examination, tumors of the nervous system were seen in all the ENU-treated groups. The tumor incidence of the ENU group at 32nd and 42nd week necropsy was higher than that of the vehicle control group. The incidence of glial tumors at 42nd week necropsy was higher than the 32nd week necropsy. However, there were no differences in the tumor incidence between the sham control (T1) and ENU + magnetic field exposure groups (T2-T4). In conclusion, there was no evidence that exposure of offspring to 60 Hz at magnetic field strengths up to 500 muT to the age of 32 or 42 weeks promoted ENU-initiated brain tumors in rats.     

Quantitative trait loci for electrical seizure threshold mapped in C57BLKS/J and C57BL/10SnJ mice

We mapped the quantitative trait loci (QTL) that contribute to the robust difference in maximal electroshock seizure threshold (MEST) between C57BLKS/J (BKS) and C57BL10S/J (B10S) mice. BKS, B10S, BKS × B10S F1 and BKS × B10S F2 intercross mice were tested for MEST at 8-9 weeks of age. Results of F2 testing showed that, in this cross, MEST is a continuously distributed trait determined by polygenic inheritance. Mice from the extremes of the trait distribution were genotyped using microarray technology. MEST correlated significantly with body weight and sex; however, because of the high correlation between these factors, the QTL mapping was conditioned on sex alone. A sequential series of statistical analyses was used to map QTLs including single-point, multipoint and multilocus methods. Two QTLs reached genome-wide levels of significance based upon an empirically determined permutation threshold: chromosome 6 (LOD = 6.0 at ～69 cM) and chromosome 8 (LOD = 5.7 at ～27 cM). Two additional QTLs were retained in a multilocus regression model: chromosome 3 (LOD = 2.1 at ～68 cM) and chromosome 5 (LOD = 2.7 at ～73 cM). Together the four QTLs explain one third of the total phenotypic variance in the mapping population. Lack of overlap between the major MEST QTLs mapped here in BKS and B10S mice and those mapped previously in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice (strains that are closely related to BKS and B10S) suggest that BKS and B10S represent a new polygenic mouse model for investigating susceptibility to seizures.     

Effect of 50 Hz, 0.2 mT magnetic fields on RBC properties and heart functions of albino rats

In this work the effect of sinusoidal 50 Hz, 0.2 mT magnetic fields on the red blood cells (RBCs) and heart functions of Albino rats were investigated. Twenty-four male Albino rats were equally divided into four groups, A, B, C, and D. Animals from groups B were continuously exposed to the magnetic field for 15 days; and groups C and D, for 30 days. Group A was used as control. Animals from group D were kept after exposure to the magnetic field for a period of 45 days for delayed effect studies. The osmotic fragility and shape of RBCs' membrane and hemoglobin (Hb) structure tests were carried out for all groups. The dielectric relaxation of Hb molecules was measured in the frequency range of 0.1-10 MHz and the dielectric increment (Deltaepsilon), relaxation time (tau), molecular radius (r), and Cole-Cole parameter (alpha) were calculated for all groups. The ECG was measured for all animals before and after exposure to the magnetic field. The results indicated that exposure of the animals to 50 Hz, 0.2 mT magnetic fields resulted in the decrease of RBCs membrane elasticity and permeability and changes in the molecular structure of Hb. The ECG of the exposed animals was considerably altered. The data also indicated that there was no sign of repair in the newly generated RBCs structure and the ECG after removing the animals from the magnetic field, which indicates that the blood generating system was severely injured. The injuries in the heart of the animals were attributed to the loss of some physiological functions of the RBCs as a result of exposures of the rats to the magnetic field.     

Rats are not aversive when exposed to 60-Hz magnetic fields at 3.03 mT.

Thirty-two male rats were tested in two replicates of an experiment to determine whether body currents induced by 60-Hz magnetic fields might lead to avoidance behavior comparable to that which results from exposure to strong 60-Hz electric fields. The test apparatus was a two-compartment Plexiglas shuttlebox enclosed in a sound-attenuating plywood chamber, which in turn was encompassed by two copper bus bars that, when energized, served as a source of 60-Hz magnetic fields. Location of the rat, and traverse activity in the shuttlebox were monitored by nine infra-red photo detectors equally spaced along the length of the apparatus. Rats were divided into 2 groups: 1 group of rats (n = 8 per group per replicate) was sham exposed while rats in the other group (n = 8 per group per replicate) were exposed to a 3.03 mT (30.3 G), 60-Hz magnetic field whenever they traversed to or were located on the side (L or R) predetermined as the exposed side. To control artifact incident to side preference, the side exposed (L or R) was alternated over the exposed rats. Each rat was tested individually in a 1-h session. A 2-factor ANOVA (exposed vs. control, replicate 1 vs. replicate 2) failed to reveal any significant effects due to either factor or to an interaction between factors. These data demonstrate that rats do not avoid exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields at a flux density of 3.03 mT and further imply that the avoidance by rats of high level 60-Hz electric fields is mediated by something other than the internal body currents induced by the exposure.     

Clinical progression of transplanted large granular lymphocytic leukemia in Fischer 344 rats exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields

The purpose of this study was to determine if 60 Hz magnetic fields can alter the clinical progression of leukemia in an animal model. Large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukemia cells from spleens of leukemic rats were transplanted into young male Fischer 344 rats, producing signs of leukemia in approximately 2–3 months. The animals were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups (108/group) as follows: 1) 10 G (1.0 mT) linearly polarized 60 Hz magnetic fields, 2) sham exposed [null energized unit with residual 20 mG (2 μT) fields], 3) ambient controls [<1 mG (0.1 μT)], and 4) positive controls (a single 5 Gy whole body exposure to ⁶⁰Co 4 days prior to initiation of exposure). All rats were injected intraperitoneally (ip) with 2.2 × 10⁷ LGL leukemic cells at the initiation of exposure or sham exposure. The magnetic fields were activated for 20 h/day, 7 days/week, allowing time for animal care. The experimental fields were in addition to natural ambient magnetic fields. Eighteen rats from each treatment group were bled, killed, and evaluated at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 weeks of exposure. Peripheral blood hematological endpoints, changes in spleen growth, and LGL cell infiltration into the spleen and liver were measured to evaluate the leukemia progression. No significant or consistent differences were detected between the magnetic field exposed groups and the ambient control group, although the clinical progress of leukemia was enhanced in the positive control animals. These data indicate that exposure to sinusoidal, linearly polarized 60 Hz, 10 G magnetic fields did not significantly alter the clinical progression of LGL leukemia. Furthermore, the data are in general agreement with previous results of a companion repeated‐bleeding study in which animals were exposed for 18 weeks. Bioelectromagnetics 20:48–56, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of static magnetic fields on plasma levels of angiotensin II and aldosterone associated with arterial blood pressure in genetically hypertensive rats

Effects of static magnetic fields (SMFs) on development of hypertension were investigated using young male, stroke resistant, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) beginning at 7 weeks of age. SHRs were randomly assigned to two different exposure groups or an unexposed group. The SHRs in the exposure groups were constantly exposed to two different types of external SMFs of 3.0-10.0 mT or 8.0-25.0 mT for 12 weeks. The SMFs were generated from permanent magnetic plates attached to the rat cage. The blood pressure (BP) of each rat was determined at weekly intervals using indirect tail-cuff method. The SMFs suppressed and retarded the development of hypertension in both exposed groups to a statistically significant extent for several weeks, as compared with an unexposed group. The antipressor effects were related to the extent of reduction in plasma levels of angiotensin II and aldosterone in the SHRs. These results suggest that the SMFs of mT intensities with spatial gradients could be attributable to suppression of early BP elevation via hormonal regulatory system.     

Influence of 50 Hz magnetic field on sex hormones and other fertility parameters of adult male rats

The effects of an extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field on the sex hormones and other fertility parameters of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. Adult male rats were exposed to a 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field at approximately 25 microT (rms) for 18 consecutive weeks. There were no significant effects on the absolute body weight and the weight of the testes of the exposed rats. However, the weights of seminal vesicles and preputial glands were significantly reduced in the exposed male rats. Similarly, a significant reduction in sperm count was observed in the exposed group. Furthermore, there were no significant effects on the serum levels of male follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) during the 18 weeks of exposure period. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in the serum levels of male luteinizing hormone (LH) after 18 weeks of exposure (P < .005), while testosterone levels were significantly decreased only after 6 and 12 weeks of the exposure period. These results suggest that long term exposure to ELF could have adverse effects on mammalian fertility and reproduction.     

Dose-response model for Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis)

Aims: The objective of this study was development of a dose–response model for exposure to Burkholderia pseudomallei in different animal hosts and analysis of the results. The data sets with which the model was developed were taken from the open literature. Methods and Results: All data sets were initially tested for a trend between dose and outcome using the Cochran–Armitage test. Only data showing a statistically significant trend were subjected to further analysis (fitting with parametric dose–response relationships). Dose–response relationships (exponential, beta-Poisson and log-probit) were fit to data using the method of maximum likelihood estimation. Conclusions: Dose–response analysis of BALB/c mice, C57BL/6 mice, guinea pigs and diabetic rats showed that BALB/c mice exposed intranasally (i.n.) and guinea pigs exposed intraperitoneally (i.p.) are significantly more sensitive to B. pseudomallei than C57BL/6 mice exposed i.n. and diabetic rats exposed i.p. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results confirmed the findings of a study of outbreak data that the diabetic population is more susceptible to infection with B. pseudomallei than the general population. The low dose prediction from best fit dose–response models can be used to draw guidelines for public health decision making processes, including consideration of sensitive subpopulations.     

变压器噪声暴露对SD大鼠听力及应激状态的影响研究

目的:探究短时间内低声级强度低频的变压器噪声暴露对SD大鼠听力及应激状态方面的影响。方法:选取90只SPF级健康无听力障碍的(雌雄各半)SD大鼠作为实验对象,随机分为实验A、B组和对照C组,A、B组分别给予声级上限为65 dB SPL、60 dB SPL(频谱范围:100~800 Hz)的变压器噪声,噪声暴露时程为8周,每日噪声给予时间为22点至次日8点,C组在相同条件下饲养,不给予噪声暴露。噪声暴露结束后,通过DPOAE(畸变耳声发射)、ABR(听性脑干反应)检测、耳蜗铺片及毛细胞计数对SD大鼠听力学状况进行评估;通过血清中促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)、血清皮质醇(CORT)对SD大鼠的应激状态进行评估。结果:在变压器噪声暴露的8周内,各组大鼠生长状况良好,体重均呈正常生理性增长,组间无明显差异(P0.05);在变压器噪声暴露8周后,对A、B、C三组大鼠的听力学指标进行两两比较,组间均无明显差异(P0.05),对大鼠血清中促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)、血清皮质醇(CORT)的含量进行三组间比较,组间差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:连续暴露于声压级上限65/60 dB SPL,频谱范围为100~800 Hz的变压器噪声下8周(10小时/天)对SD大鼠听力未产生明显影响,未引发SD大鼠应激状态。     

Large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukemia in rats exposed to intermittent 60 Hz magnetic fields

An animal model for large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukemia in male Fischer 344 rats was utilized to determine whether magnetic field exposure can be shown to influence the progression of leukemia. We previously reported that exposure to continuous 60 Hz, 1 mT magnetic fields did not significantly alter the clinical progression of LGL leukemia in young male rats following injection of spleen cells from donor leukemic rats. Results presented here extend those studies with the following objectives: (a) to replicate the previous study of continuous 60 Hz magnetic field exposures, but using fewer LGL cells in the inoculum, and (b) to determine if intermittent 60 Hz magnetic fields can alter the clinical progression of leukemia. Rats were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (18/group) as follows: (1) 1 mT (10 G) continuous field, (2) 1 mT intermittent field (off/on at 3 min intervals), (3) ambient controls ( < 0.1 microT), and (4) positive control (5 Gy whole body irradiation from cobalt-60 four days prior to initiation of exposure). All rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2.2 x 10(6) fresh, viable LGL leukemic spleen cells at the beginning of the study. The fields were activated for 20 h per day, 7 days per week, and all exposure conditions were superimposed over the natural ambient magnetic field. The rats were weighed and palpated for splenomegaly weekly. Splenomegaly developed 9-11 weeks after transplantation of the leukemia cells. Hematological evaluations were performed at 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 weeks of exposure. Peripheral blood hemoglobin concentration, red blood cells, and packed cell volume declined, and total white blood cells and LGL cells increased dramatically in all treatment groups after onset of leukemia. Although the positive control group showed different body weight curves and developed signs of leukemia earlier than other groups, differences were not detected between exposure groups and ambient controls. Furthermore, there were no overall effects of magnetic fields on splenomegaly or survival in exposed animals. In addition, no significant and/or consistent differences were detected in hematological parameters between the magnetic field exposed and the ambient control groups.