Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Fifty-Hertz electromagnetic fields facilitate the induction of rat bone mesenchymal stromal cells to differentiate into functional neurons med./bio.

By: Bai WF, Xu WC, Feng Y, Huang H, Li XP, Deng CY, Zhang MS
Published in: Cytotherapy 2013; 15 (8): 961-970
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the influence of 50 Hz-magnetic fields on the differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stromal cells into neurons.

Background/further details

Three groups of cell cultures were examined: 1.) induction + magnetic field exposure, 2.) induction and 3.) control group (neither exposure nor induction).
For induction, cell cultures were treated with growth factors.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 60 min/day for up to 12 days (or 30 min? Contradictory information)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 60 min/day for up to 12 days (or 30 min? Contradictory information)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup dimensions of coils: 40 mm high, 100 mm long, 100 mm inner diameter, 200 mm outer diameter; 200 turns with a radius of 70 mm
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 5 mT - measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The morphology of the cells changed during the 10 days of observation into neuron-like cells with functional neural electrophysiological activity. Particularly in the exposed group, a high number of neuron-like cells was found when compared to the other groups. Exposed cells showed significantly increased surface protein expression of neuron-specific-enolase compared to the induction group, which indicates a more mature stage. The percentage of cells in the G0 phase and G1 phase was significantly decreased in the exposed group as compared to the other groups, while the percentage of cells in the S-phase was significantly increased. Gene expression of beta-tubulin III, glial fibrillary acidic protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor was highest in the exposure group and lowest in the control group, while in the induction group, gene expression of these genes was higher than in the control group but lower in comparison to the exposure group. In neither of the groups, gene expression of nestin was observed.
Taken together, the data indicate that exposure to 50 Hz-magnetic fields could promote the differentiation of rate bone mesenchymal stromal cells into functional neurons. Therefore, according to the authors, extremely low frequency magnetic fields could represent a potential therapeutic option for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Study character:

Study funded by

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