Structural and functional changes in organelles of liver cells in rats exposed to magnetic fields.

Exposure of rats to magnetic fields of 10(-3) and 10(-2) T for 1 hr daily generated structural changes in hepatocytes mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosomes. Simultaneously there was an increase in the activities of the mitochrondrial respiratory enzymes: NADH dehydrogenase, succinic dehydrogenase, and cytochrome oxidase. The extent of the changes in liver cell properties following exposure depend on the duration of exposure to and the strength of the applied magnetic fields. Ultrastructural studies did not reveal any changes in external membranes of hepatocytes or in the membranes of cell nuclei. An increase in the amount of glycogen in hepatocytes of rats exposed to both 10(-3) and 10(-2) T was noted. The high level of cortisol in serum of exposed rats suggests that magnetic field may be a stress generating factor.