Effects of different extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on osteoblasts.

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2007 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5047

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2007

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

It is well known that the extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) can promote the healing of bone fractures, but its mechanism remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the response of neonatal rat calvarial bone cells to the rectangular electromagnetic field (REMF), triangular electromagnetic field (TEMF), sinusoidal electromagnetic field (SEMF), and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). The stimulatory effects of EMF were evaluated by the proliferation (methyltetrazolium colorimetric assay), differentiation (alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity), and mineralization (area of mineralized nodules of the cells). REMF treatment of osteoblasts increased cellular proliferation and decreased ALP activity (p < 0.05). TEMF had an accelerative effect on the cellular mineralized nodules (p < 0.05). SEMF treatment of osteoblasts decreased the cellular proliferation, increased ALP activity, and suppressed mineralized nodules formation (p < 0.05). PEMF promoted the proliferation of osteoblasts, inhibited their differentiation, and increased the mineralized nodules formation (p < 0.05). Moreover, the effects of PEMF on osteoblasts were concerned with the extracellular calcium, P2 receptor on the membrane, and PLC pathway, but the response of osteoblasts on SEMF was only related to PLC pathway. The results suggested that the waveforms of EMF were the crucial parameters to induce the response of osteoblasts.

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 typein_vitro

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNeonatal rat calvarial bone cells (osteoblasts)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Different ELF-EMF waveforms produced different effects in neonatal rat calvarial osteoblasts. REMF increased proliferation and decreased ALP activity; TEMF accelerated mineralized nodule formation; SEMF decreased proliferation, increased ALP activity, and suppressed mineralized nodule formation; PEMF promoted proliferation, inhibited differentiation, and increased mineralized nodule formation (all p<0.05).

Outcomes measured

Cellular proliferation (methyltetrazolium colorimetric assay)
Differentiation (alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity)
Mineralization (area of mineralized nodules)
Mechanistic pathways (extracellular calcium, P2 receptor, PLC pathway)

Limitations

No exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength, duration) reported in the abstract
In vitro neonatal rat cell model; generalizability to humans not addressed
Sample size not reported in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Neonatal rat calvarial bone cells (osteoblasts)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cellular proliferation (methyltetrazolium colorimetric assay)",
    "Differentiation (alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity)",
    "Mineralization (area of mineralized nodules)",
    "Mechanistic pathways (extracellular calcium, P2 receptor, PLC pathway)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Different ELF-EMF waveforms produced different effects in neonatal rat calvarial osteoblasts. REMF increased proliferation and decreased ALP activity; TEMF accelerated mineralized nodule formation; SEMF decreased proliferation, increased ALP activity, and suppressed mineralized nodule formation; PEMF promoted proliferation, inhibited differentiation, and increased mineralized nodule formation (all p<0.05).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "No exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength, duration) reported in the abstract",
    "In vitro neonatal rat cell model; generalizability to humans not addressed",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "osteoblasts",
    "neonatal rat calvarial cells",
    "rectangular EMF",
    "triangular EMF",
    "sinusoidal EMF",
    "pulsed EMF",
    "proliferation",
    "alkaline phosphatase",
    "mineralization",
    "PLC pathway",
    "P2 receptor",
    "extracellular calcium"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.1080/15368370701580756
PubMed: 17886004

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