Effects of ELF-MF on escape latency and total distance as measured by the MWM test.

<p>In the spatial acquisition phase, four trials per animal per day were performed for 5 d. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures using the day and group as variable was conducted, and the performances of 5 d among groups were compared. A. Effects of ELF-MF on the escape latency of each rat in each of five training days. B. Effects of ELF-MF on the total distance travelled by each rat in each of five training days. Statistical results of two-way ANOVA with repeated measures showed no significant differences between the control and MF groups as well as between the Al and MF+Al groups. **<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> control group, ^##<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> MF group, n = 10 per group.</p

Ultrapure water and aluminum trichloride solution intake (ml) of rats in each group (n = 10).

<p>The water intake before the AlCl₃ solution treatment were recorded during the 1 wk of acclimatization and expressed as an average value of 7 d. During the Al treatment, the water intake was expressed as an average value of 12 w for each rat. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures with the day and group as variable was used. The results showed no significant differences in the water intakes of all four groups of rats before AlCl₃ treatment. During the Al treatment, no significant differences were observed between the control and MF groups as well as between the Al and MF+Al groups.</p>**<p><i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> Control group,</p>##<p><i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> MF group.</p

H&E staining results of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

<p>(A) The hippocampal CA1 area (arrows) and cortical region above the hippocampus (dashed box) were used for analysis (magnification, 400×). (B) The histogram demonstrates the density of normal neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus CA1 area. One-way ANOVA followed by LSD post hoc test showed no significant differences in terms of densities of normal neurons in the cerebral cortex between the Al and MF+Al groups as well as between the control and MF groups. Quantitative results of hippocampal neurons were similar to those of the cerebral cortex. Differences between the control and MF groups as well as between the Al and MF+Al groups were not significant. The same statistical analysis results were obtained by using Kruskal-Wallis H test followed by the Mann-Whitney U test. **<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> control group, ^##<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> MF group, n = 6 per group. (C) Control group and (E) MF group: normal morphology with few shrunken neurons. (D) Al group and (F) MF+Al group: normal neurons with distinguishable cell membranes and clear nucleoli close to shrunken (arrows) and swollen (arrowheads) neurons. Bar = 200 µm in A. Bar = 10 µm in C, D, E, F, n = 48 per group.</p

Diagram of the exposure system and field characteristics.

<p>MF group and MF+Al group rats were kept in the exposure region which includes a pair of Helmholtz coils. Control group and Al group rats were placed in a geomagnetic environment in the sham region. A temperature control system composed of a controller, two temperature sensors, and two heaters were used to reduce the temperature differences between the two regions.</p

Platform crossings for each rat by group during the probe test.

<p>During the probe test at the sixth day after finishing the acquisition task, each rat was allowed to swim freely for 30 s, the number of crossings through the target position was recorded for each rat by group (10 rats per group). Rank sum tests revealed no significant differences in platform crossings between the Al and MF+Al groups and between the control and MF groups.</p>*<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. Control group,</p>#<p><i>P</i><0.05 vs. MF group, n = 10 per group.</p

Body weight growth curve of the four groups of rats.

<p>The body weights (mean<i>±</i>SD) of each group of rats (n = 10 per group) recorded weekly are shown. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures using the day and group as variable showed that during the 12 wk experiment, differences in body weights between the control and MF groups as well as between the Al and MF+Al groups were not significant. **<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> control group, ^#<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> MF group, ^##<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> MF group, n = 10 per group.</p

Al levels in dry cerebral cortex determined by ICP-AES.

<p>One-way ANOVA followed by LSD post hoc test showed no significant differences in Al levels between the control and MF groups as well as between the Al and MF+Al groups in the cerebral cortex. The same statistical analysis results were obtained by using Kruskal-Wallis H test followed by the Mann-Whitney U test. *<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> control group, **<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> control group, ^#<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> MF group, ^##<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> MF group, n = 6 per group.</p