Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Comparison of effects of high- and low-frequency electromagnetic fields on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells med./bio.

By: Bai W, Li M, Xu W, Zhang M
Published in: Neurosci Lett 2021; 741: 135463
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of a strong and a weak 50 Hz magnetic field on proliferation and differentiation of rat neural stem cells should be investigated.

Background/further details

The cells were divided into the following groups: 1) exposure to the strong magnetic field (2.5 T), 2) exposure to the weak magnetic field (5 mT), 3) control group.
Remark EMF Portal: The article refers to the strong magnetic field as "high frequency" and the weak magnetic field as "low frequency". This designation is misleading, since the frequency of both fields is identical (50 Hz) and instead the magnetic flux density is different.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 10 minutes per day for 3 days
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 30 minutes per day for 3 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration 10 minutes per day for 3 days
Additional info strong magnetic field
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup the coil was placed 1 cm away from the bottom of the culture plate
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 2.5 T - - - unclear if maybe only 1 T

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration 30 minutes per day for 3 days
Additional info weak magnetic field
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 5 mT - - - -

Reference articles

  • Baek A et al. (2018): The Differential Effects of Repetitive Magnetic Stimulation in an In Vitro Neuronal Model of Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
  • Li W et al. (2016): [50Hz electromagnetic fields facilitate bone marrow stroma cells-derived neural progenitor cells to differentiate into neurons]
  • Grehl S et al. (2015): Cellular and molecular changes to cortical neurons following low intensity repetitive magnetic stimulation at different frequencies
  • Liu H et al. (2015): Repetitive magnetic stimulation promotes neural stem cells proliferation by upregulating MiR-106b in vitro
  • Zhang M et al. (2013): Effects of low frequency electromagnetic field on proliferation of human epidermal stem cells: An in vitro study
  • Feng Y et al. (2013): [Low-frequency electromagnetic fields enhance the recovery of spinal cord injured rats undergoing bone mesenchymal stem cell transplantation]
  • Rodger J et al. (2012): Transcranial pulsed magnetic field stimulation facilitates reorganization of abnormal neural circuits and corrects behavioral deficits without disrupting normal connectivity

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Cell proliferation was significantly higher in the group of weak magnetic field exposure (group 2) compared to the strong magnetic field exposure (group 1) and the control group. In group 1, however, cell proliferation was significantly higher than in the control group. The protein expression and gene expression of Tuj-1 were significantly higher in group 2 compared to the other groups and significantly higher in group 1 compared to the control group. The expression of GFAP did not significantly differ among three groups.
The authors concluded that both a strong and a weak 50 Hz magnetic field might promote proliferation and differentiation of rat neural stem cells.

Study character:

Study funded by

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