In a study of carbohydrate metabolism in testicular tissue, Udinstev and Khlyin exposed rats
continuously (for 24 hr.) or intermittently (6.5 hr./ day, for 5 days) to 200 gauss, 50 Hz (26). In the case
of the 24-hour exposure, he observed a brief initial activation of enzyme activity followed by a
depression of activity and then a return to normal levels. Intermittent exposure to the field, however,
was characterized by a prolonged depression of the activity of several enzymes, including hexokinase,
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and cytochromoxidase. These changes pointed to a depression in
tissue respiration which would be consistent with the authors' previous work that showed a decrease in
testosterone production following exposure to the EMF.
Chronic exposure of mice to a 7-KHz pulsed magnetic field produced morphological changes in
the testes of rats: the seminal epithelium, ducts and sperm cells were each altered at 30 gauss, but not at
5 gauss (27).
Female rats exhibited estrous-cycle dysfunction and some pathological changes in the uterus
and ovaries following exposure to 5 kv/m 50 Hz (28). In males, the EMF caused a decrease sperm
count and an increase in the number of dead and atypical spermatozoa. When the exposed animals were
mated with unexposed rats, decreased birth rates and increased postnatal mortality were found in the
offspring (28). Constant exposure to a 130-140 gauss magnetic field, both DC and so Hz, also produced
changes in the estrous-cycle of female rats (29). Disturbances in ovarian morphology and fertility, and
alterations in postembryonic development were seen following exposure of female mice to 10-50
µW/cm2, 2.4 GHz (30).
Because the developing organism is particularly sensitive to external influences, several
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