Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Electromagnetic field stimulation potentiates endogenous myelin repair by recruiting subventricular neural stem cells in an experimental model of white matter demyelination med./bio.

By: Sherafat MA, Heibatollahi M, Mongabadi S, Moradi F, Javan M, Ahmadiani A
Published in: J Mol Neurosci 2012; 48 (1): 144-153
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of multiple sclerosis model rats to a 60 Hz magnetic field on proliferation and migration of neural stem cells and repair of myelin in the corpus callosum should be investigated.

Background/further details

Multiple sclerosis was induced in rats by an injection of lysophosphatidylcholine into the corpus callosum. Neural stem cells are capable to form new myelin sheats and might therefore be of use in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
30 rats were divided into the following groups (n ≥ 3 each): 1) sham injection with salt solution and exposure to the magnetic field (remark EMF-Portal: it is not clear how long this group was exposed), multiple sclerosis model rats and exposure to the magnetic field for 2) 7 days, 3) 14 days and 4) 28 days. For each group a separate sham exposure group was used.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 60 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 2 x 2 per day for 7 days
Exposure 2: 60 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 2 x 2 per day for 14 days
Exposure 3: 60 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 2 x 2 per day for 28 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 60 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 2 x 2 per day for 7 days
Additional info transcranial electromagnetic field stimulation, oscillatory magnetic field
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber plastic cylindrical restrainers
Setup a pair of 7-cm-diameter Helmholtz coils was located dorsal and ventral of the head; the distance between each coil and the midpoint of the head was approximately 6 cm
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.7 mT - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 60 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 2 x 2 per day for 14 days
Additional info transcranial electromagnetic field stimulation, oscillatory magnetic field
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.7 mT - - - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 60 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 2 x 2 per day for 28 days
Additional info transcranial electromagnetic field stimulation, oscillatory magnetic field
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.7 mT - - - -

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Exposure to the magnetic field significantly reduced the extent of myelin destruction in the corpus callosum of multiple sclerosis model rats after 14 (group 3) and 28 days (group 4) of exposure compared to the respective sham exposure groups. Corresponding to that, the presence of Schwann cells was significantly increased in rats from all exposure groups (groups 2-4) compared to sham exposed rats.
The number and proliferation of neural stem cells in the corpus callosum was significantly increased in all exposure groups compared to the sham exposure groups, indicating a migration of neural stem cells to the damaged areas and cell growth.
The authors conclude that exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field might promote a proliferation and migration of neural stem cells and repair of myelin in damaged tissue of the corpus callosum in multiple sclerosis model rats.

Study character:

Study funded by

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