1999 年 23 巻 4_2 号 p. 1521-1524
We developed a multi-channel high-resolution SQUID magnetometer for measuring biomagnetic fields produced by small animals. Using this system, we measured magnetocardiograms (MCGs) of rats. The specifications of our system are as follows: pick-up coils 5 mm in diameter located on a 7.5-mm grid, a 15-mm gradiometer base-line, a one-turn pick-up coil, and a distance of 5 mm between the pick-up coil and the outside surface of the dewar. The field sensitivity was 1 OO-fT/√ Hz in the white-noise frequency. Five adult rats, ranging in weight from 0.2 to 0.4 kg, were used in the study. The rats were anesthetized intraperitoneally with nembutal (40 mg / 1 kg). The number of magnetocardiogram signals averaged 2000, with the QRS wave as the trigger. The topographies of P-waves, QRS-waves and T-waves of MCG were analyzed. We concluded that the system used in this study is useful for physiological studies of small animals.