Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields enhance the proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells cultured from ischemic brains med./bio.

Published in: NeuroReport 2015; 26 (15): 896-902

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of neural progenitor cells from adult ischemic and embryonic mice brains to a 50 Hz magnetic field on proliferation and neural differentiation should be investigated.

Background/further details

Neural progenitor cells play a crucial role in regeneration after brain injuries and may therefore be of therapeutic use.
Cells were divided into the following groups: 1) magnetic field exposure of embryo-derived cells, 2) control group for embryo-derived cells, 3) magnetic field exposure of adult-derived cells, 4) co-exposure of adult-derived cells to magnetic field and Wortmannin, 5) control group for adult-derived cells. Wortmannin is a specific inhibitor of the protein kinase B, whose signal pathway was investigated as a possible underlying mechanism of action.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for up to 7 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for up to 7 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber incubator
Setup the solenoid was positioned into a water-jacketed temperature- and atmosphere-regulated incubator (37 ± 0.4°C, 5% CO2)
Additional info control samples were placed in another identical incubator
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.4 mT - measured - uniformity of field ± 0.012 mT

Reference articles

  • He YL et al. (2013): Exposure to Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Modulates Na(+) Currents in Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells through Increase of AA/PGE(2) and EP Receptor-Mediated cAMP/PKA Pathway

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Exposure to the magnetic field significantly increased the cell proliferation and the amount of differentiated neurons in both embryo-derived (group 1) and adult-derived (group 3) cells compared to their respective control group (group 2 or 5). Astrocyte differentiation did not show any significant differences between the exposure and control groups. The oligodendrocyte differentiation could not be analyzed due to a lack of detectable markers.
The amount of phosphorylated protein kinase B was significantly increased in exposed adult-derived cells (group 3) in comparison to the respective control group. Co-exposure to magnetic field and Wortmannin, however, decreased the amount of phosphorylated protein kinase B and reduced the cell proliferation significantly compared to the exposure group. All other signal pathway markers did not show any significant differences between the groups.
The authors conclude that exposure of neural progenitor cells from adult ischemic and embryonic mice brains to a 50 Hz magnetic field might enhance proliferation and neuronal differentiation. The effects of the magnetic field might be mediated via the protein kinase B pathway.

Study character:

Study funded by

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