BIOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS TO HIGH MAGNETIC-FIELDS

Here we describe a device for testing possible influences of high magn etic fields on biological processes, by which alternating-current magn etic stimuli as high as 1.7T can be administered. Experiments with a s imple multicellular organism, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, rev ealed that intermittent exposure to the magnetic fields modestly inhib ited the animal's reproduction as well as its post-embryonic developme nt, and caused a marked but transient derangement in its locomotory be havior. Available evidence indicates that alternating high magnetic fi elds can elicit both chronic and acute biological effects, but that th e effects may be well tolerated or compensated for by the living organ ism.