Exposure to ELF- magnetic field promotes restoration of sensori-motor functions in adult rats with hemisection of thoracic spinal cord.

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2012 · Benefit · Low evidence

← Research stream

BenefitLow evidencePaper 4505

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2012

Study typeanimal

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Clinically effective modalities of treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI) still remain unsatisfactory and are largely invasive in nature. There are reports of accelerated regeneration in injured peripheral nerves by extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) in the rat. In the present study, the effect of (50 Hz), low-intensity (17.96 μT) magnetic field (MF) exposure of rats after-hemisection of T13 spinal cord (hSCI) was investigated on sensori-motor and locomotor functions. Rats were divided into hSCI (sham-exposed) and hSCI+MF (MF: 2 h/d X 6 weeks) groups. Besides their general conditions, locomotor function by Basso, Beattie, and Brenahan (BBB) score; motor responses to noxious stimuli by threshold of tail flick (TTF), simple vocalization (TSV), tail flick latency (TFL), and neuronal excitability by H-reflex were noted. It is found that, in the hSCI+MF group, a statistically significant improvement over the hSCI control group was noted in BBB score from post-SCI wk2 and TFL and TTF by post-hSCI wk1 and wk3, respectively. Correspondingly, TSV gradually restored by post-hSCI wk5.The threshold of H-reflex was reduced on ipsilateral side vs. contralateral side in hSCI and hSCI+MF group. A complete bladder control was dramatically restored on post-hSCI day4 (vs. day7 of hSCI group) and the survival rate was 100% in the hSCI+MF group (vs. 90% of hSCI group). The results of our study suggest that extremely low-frequency (50 Hz), low-intensity (17.96 μT) MF exposure for 2 h/d x 6wks promotes recovery of sensori-motor behavior including locomotion and bladder control both in terms of temporal pattern and magnitude in hemisection injury of (T13) spinal cord rats.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationAdult rats with hemisection of thoracic spinal cord (T13)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 2 h/day for 6 weeks

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to a 50 Hz, low-intensity (17.96 μT) magnetic field for 2 h/day for 6 weeks after T13 hemisection showed statistically significant improvements versus sham-exposed hSCI controls in BBB locomotor scores (from week 2), tail flick latency (from week 1), tail flick threshold (from week 3), and gradual restoration of simple vocalization threshold (by week 5). Bladder control returned earlier (day 4 vs day 7) and survival was 100% vs 90% in controls; H-reflex threshold was reduced ipsilaterally vs contralaterally in both groups.

Outcomes measured

Locomotor function (BBB score)
Motor responses to noxious stimuli (tail flick latency, tail flick threshold, simple vocalization threshold)
Neuronal excitability (H-reflex threshold)
Bladder control recovery timing
Survival rate

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Details of randomization/blinding not stated
Exposure setup and dosimetry beyond frequency and field strength not described in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 h/day for 6 weeks"
  },
  "population": "Adult rats with hemisection of thoracic spinal cord (T13)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Locomotor function (BBB score)",
    "Motor responses to noxious stimuli (tail flick latency, tail flick threshold, simple vocalization threshold)",
    "Neuronal excitability (H-reflex threshold)",
    "Bladder control recovery timing",
    "Survival rate"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to a 50 Hz, low-intensity (17.96 μT) magnetic field for 2 h/day for 6 weeks after T13 hemisection showed statistically significant improvements versus sham-exposed hSCI controls in BBB locomotor scores (from week 2), tail flick latency (from week 1), tail flick threshold (from week 3), and gradual restoration of simple vocalization threshold (by week 5). Bladder control returned earlier (day 4 vs day 7) and survival was 100% vs 90% in controls; H-reflex threshold was reduced ipsilaterally vs contralaterally in both groups.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Details of randomization/blinding not stated",
    "Exposure setup and dosimetry beyond frequency and field strength not described in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "magnetic field",
    "50 Hz",
    "17.96 μT",
    "spinal cord injury",
    "hemisection",
    "rats",
    "locomotion",
    "BBB score",
    "tail flick",
    "H-reflex",
    "bladder control"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3109/15368378.2012.695706
PubMed: 22897399

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library