The Effects of Magnetic Field Intensity on Regeneration of Injured Peripheral Nerves S Güneş, B. Büyükakilli, H. Ankarali

Turkiye Klinikleri Tıp Bilimleri Dergisi 2008: 28: 857–66

The study aimed to investigate the effects of different intensities of sinusoidal magnetic fields of daily life exposure on the peripheral nerve regeneration. The effects of magnetic field (50 Hz frequency and 1, 2, 3 mT intensity) treatment on sciatic nerve regeneration were studied in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury. Prior to crush injury, compound muscle action potentials were recorded on all rats. Then the sciatic nerve was compressed for 15 s with a pair of jewelers’ forceps (No 5). One rat group was kept as control and the remainings were assigned equally for 1, 2 and 3 mT magnetic field treatment groups. 1, 2 and 3 mT were applied to 30 rats for 4 h per day using a Helmholtz coil system for 7 days. The control group was also placed in the system with the machine turned off for 4 h per day for a week. In terms of nerve regeneration, 3- and 7-days treatments of different magnetic field intensities had no statistical significant effect on amplitude and conduction velocity of compound muscle action potential. The intensity and frequency of magnetic fields used in this study had no effect on conduction and excitability of nerves and consequently did not influence the nerve regeneration. The investigators were not able to prove a neuroprotective effect of magnetic field on a nerve injury model using electrophysiological methods.

REHA KISNISCI