Extremely low frequency magnetic field induced changes in motor behaviour of gerbils submitted to global cerebral ischemia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate behavioural effects of an extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) in 3-month-old Mongolian gerbils submitted to global cerebral ischemia. After 10-min occlusion of both common carotid arteries, the gerbils were placed in the vicinity of an electromagnet and continuously exposed to ELF-MF (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) for 7 days. Their behaviour (locomotion, stereotypy, rotations, and immobility) was monitored on days 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14 after reperfusion for 60 min in the open field. It was shown that the 10-min global cerebral ischemia per se induced a significant motor activity increase (locomotion, stereotypy and rotations), and consequently immobility decrease until day 4 after reperfusion, compared to control gerbils. Exposure to ELF-MF inhibited development of ischemia-induced motor hyperactivity during the whole period of registration, but significantly in the first 2 days after reperfusion, when the postischemic hyperactivity was most evident. Motor activity of these gerbils was still significantly increased compared to control ones, but only on day 1 after reperfusion. Our results revealed that the applied ELF-MF (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) decreased motor hyperactivity induced by the 10-min global cerebral ischemia, via modulation of the processes that underlie this behavioural response.

► 10-min global cerebral ischemia induces specific behavioural changes in gerbils.
► Ischemia-induced motor activity is increased up to the 4th day after reperfusion.
► ELF-MF (50 Hz, 0.5 mT, 7 days) decreases motor hyperactivity of ischemic gerbils.
► ELF-MF effect persists during the whole period of motor activity registration.