Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Treatment of osteoporosis by long-term magnetic field with extremely low frequency in rats med./bio.

By: Akpolat V, Celik MS, Celik Y, Akdeniz N, Ozerdem MS

Published in: Gynecol Endocrinol 2009; 25 (8): 524-529

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the role of long-term effect of a extremely low frequency magnetic field on osteoporosis in rats.

Background/further details

45 female rats were divided into three groups: ovariectomized and exposed to an extremely low frequency magnetic field (group 1), ovariectomized without exposure (group 2), and cage control (group 3).

Endpoint

morphol./histopathol. changes: osteoporosis

Exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 6 months	magnetic flux density: 1.5 mT

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 6 months

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Helmholtz coils
Setup	pair of Helmholtz coils with a diameter of 70 cm and 125 turns of 1.5 mm soft copper wire placed vertically 47 cm apart facing each other in a 130 cm x 65 cm x 80 cm Faraday cage; rats in 43 cm x 42 cm x 15 cm methacrylate boxes during exposure

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	1.5 mT	-	measured	-	-

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

morphol./histopathol. changes: bone mineral content, bone mineral density of the whole body, femur and radius (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry)
biochemical markers of bone metabolism (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and N-telopeptide contents (enzyme immunoassay), testosterone, estradiol, and cortisol levels (chemiluminescent immunoassay)); total mass; fat

Investigated system:

isolated organ
blood samples
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

muscular/skeletal system

Time of investigation:

before exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

After six months of exposure the bone mineral content and bone mineral density values were significantly increased in the ovariectomized and exposed group, decreased in the ovariectomized and unexposed group and unchanged in the cage control.
Significant alterations were detected in the investigated biochemical markers for bone metabolism: Bone specific alkaline phosphatase levels were increased in the ovariectomized and exposed group, decreased in group 2 in comparison to the cage control. N-telopeptide, testosterone, and cortisol levels of the group 1 were significantly higher compared to the other groups whereas the estradiol level was lower.
The authors concluded that extremely low frequency magnetic fields may be useful in prevention und treatment of osteoporosis.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Research Foundation of Dicle University, Turkey

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