Eur J Anat, 6 (2): 71-74 (2002)

Ultrasound analysis of the eye of chick embryos exposed to low-frequency magnetic fields

Roda Murillo O., Roda Moreno J.A., Robles Garzon J.F., Pascual Morenilla M.T., Morente Chiquero J.A., Arrebola Nacle F., Guirao Pineyro M., Casanova Llivina J.A., Lopez Soler M.

Depto. de Ciencias Morfologicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain

ABSTRACT Ultrasonography was used to measure different ocular parameters in chick embryos exposed to low-frequency (50Hz) magnetic fields with flow intensities of 1 ?T, 0.1 mT, 0.5 mT, or 1 mT throughout their incubation. In comparison with unexposed control embryos, a significant reduction was observed in corneal thickness and in the anteroposterior diameter of the lens at 21 days of incubation (hatching) during exposure to the highest intensities (0.5 mT and 1 mT). By contrast, there was an increase in the anteroposterior diameter of the anterior eye chamber in embryos exposed to the lower magnetic field intensities (1 ?T and 0.1 mT). The anteroposterior diameter of the eye was smaller at 21 days of incubation in all the embryos exposed to magnetic fields as compared with the controls. The anteroposterior diameter of the lens was significantly smaller in embryos exposed to intensities of 0.5 mT and 1 mT in comparison with the controls.

Keywords: animal experiment, anterior eye chamber, article, chick embryo, controlled study, cornea thickness, echooculography, embryo, incubation time, keratometry, lens, low energy radiation, magnetic field, nonhuman