0000000000406626
AUTHOR
W. Wiltschko
Magnetic Sensitive Pineal Cells in Pigeons
The electrical activity of about 30% of a homing pigeon’s pineal cells can be altered by changing the horizontal or vertical component of the natural magnetic field, using two pairs of Helmholtz coils. The cells respond to a rapid and/or gradual change in the magnetic field with either excitation or inhibition. In some of the sensitive cells the responses to magnetic field changes could not be repeated.
Effects of an artificial magnetic field on serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin content of the rat pineal gland
In the present study the effects of artificial magnetic fields on pineal serotonin-N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity and melatonin content in male Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated to study the secretory activity of the pineal gland. Experimental inversion of the horizontal component of the natural magnetic field, performed at night-time, led to a significant decrease of both parameters investigated. During day-time, this effect was less conspicuous. During night-time, inversion of the horizontal component is followed by a reduced pineal secretory activity for about 2 h. After 24 h exposure to the inverted horizontal component, return to the natural condition was followed by a renewed …