Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Iron oxide nanoparticles and magnetic field exposure promote functional recovery by attenuating free radical-induced damage in rats with spinal cord transection med./bio.

By: Pal A, Singh A, Nag TC, Chattopadhyay P, Mathur R, Jain S
Published in: Int J Nanomedicine 2013; 8: 2259-2272
Download citation in RIS format

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of co-exposure of rats with spinal cord transection to a 50 Hz magnetic field and iron oxide nanoparticles on the functional recovery of spinal cord transection should be investigated.

Background/further details

For the in vivo tests, rats were divided into 4 groups: 1) spinal cord transection only (n=10), 2) spinal cord transection and implantation of iron oxide nanoparticles at the site of injury (n=7), 3) spinal cord transection and exposure to the magnetic field (n=8) and 4) spinal cord transection and nanoparticles implantation and magnetic field exposure (n=14). Exposure to the magnetic field started 24 hours after spinal cord transection. After 5 weeks, animals were killed and histological examinations were conducted.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 2 hours/day for 5 weeks

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 2 hours/day for 5 weeks
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup rats were kept in a Plexiglas enclosure placed on a wooden platform in the middle of the exposure chamber; two pairs of circular coils of equal diameter (1 m, turn ratio of 9/4/4/9) wound on the same cylindrical surface created a uniform magnetic field in the chamber
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 17.96 µT - - - -
Additional parameter details

current ratio between the outer and inner pairs of coils was 2.2604 (A?)

Reference articles

  • Kirschvink JL (1992): Uniform magnetic fields and double-wrapped coil systems: improved techniques for the design of bioelectromagnetic experiments

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Locomotor, sensory and autonomic functions were significantly enhanced in group 4 (iron oxide nanoparticles and magnetic field exposure) compared to groups 1-3.
Histology demonstrated significant recovery of tissue and a reduction in lesion volume in group 4 compared to the other groups. No collagenous scar was observed in this group and nanoparticles were localized intracellularly in the immediate vicinity of the lesion.
The authors conclude that co-exposure of rats with spinal cord transection to a 50 Hz magnetic field and iron oxide nanoparticles might improve the functional recovery of spinal cord transection, what indicates a possible therapeutic use.

Study character:

Study funded by

Related articles