Neurite Outgrowth on Chromaffin Cells Applying Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields by Permanent Magnets
Received 8 June 2009; accepted 18 September 2009.
Background and Aims
There is an increasing interest about the effects of electromagnetic fields on health and clinical applications. Electromagnetic fields have been shown to promote differentiation and regeneration of many tissues. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if a magnetic field (MF) varying in time is able to induce neurite outgrowth in cultured chromaffin cells. For this reason, a stimulation system was developed in order to generate a magnetic field, using permanent magnets as a supply.
Methods
In this investigation we used a pair of permanent ferrite magnets. These were mounted in a mechanical system in which both magnets rotate around a culture Petri dish. The stimulation device was designed at Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Avanzados del IPN, Mexico City. Primary cultures of chromaffin cells were stimulated with a magnetic field of 6.4 mT and 4, 7, 10 or 12Hz (2h daily, during a 7-day period). After treatment, percentage of neurite outgrowth was calculated.
Results
Our results show that the magnetic fields produced by rotating permanent magnets induced neurite outgrowth on chromaffin cells at 7 and 10Hz.
Conclusions
The present study provides evidence that MFs varying in time (7 and 10Hz) induce neurite outgrowth in chromaffin cells. These studies will contribute to elucidate the effect of noninvasive MF stimulus in order to apply it in future regeneration therapies. Also, the device designed could be used for different kind of cells and may work as a model for future clinical devices.
aSección de Bioelectrónica, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Av. IPN, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, México, D.F., México
bDepartamento de Fisiología, Laboratorio de Bioelectromagnetismo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México, D.F., México
Address reprint requests to: Leticia Verdugo, Ph.D., Departamento de Fisiología, Laboratorio de Bioelectromagnetismo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio A, 5o. piso, Ciudad Universitaria; México, D.F., 04510, México; Phone: FAX: (+52) (55) 5623-23 41
ABSTRACT