Morphologic responses of osteoblast-like cells in monolayer culture to ELF electromagnetic fields.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2000 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5355

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2000

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Osteoblast-like cells (MC 3T3-E1) were exposed for 24 h, immediately after plating, to a 60 Hz, 0.7 mT rms magnetic flux density, sufficient to induce an electric field of 0.5 mV/m rms, in order to investigate the influence of ELF field exposure on cell morphology. Using phase contrast images of the live cells, computerized image-analysis permitted rapid and objective quantification of cell length, width, area, perimeter, circularity and angular orientation. While the field-exposed cells were consistently smaller than sham treated cells, the morphologic alterations were not significantly different in the exposed cell population when cell orientation was not considered. When analyzed with respect to cell orientation, cells oriented parallel to the induced electric field (orthogonal to the applied magnetic field) demonstrated a significant decrease in cell length and an increase in roundness. These results confirm and extend previous studies on the morphologic adaptation of cells to low level ELF electromagnetic fields. The results suggest that the observed responses most likely depend on the induced electric field, with a field intensity threshold well below 1 mV/m. Further, these results provide important clues to the specific mechanism by which such low level fields may be capable of influencing cell behavior, and help to explain some of the difficulties in obtaining robust responses in in vitro EMF experiments.

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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

PopulationOsteoblast-like cells (MC 3T3-E1) in monolayer culture

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 6e-05 MHz · 24 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Cells exposed for 24 h to a 60 Hz, 0.7 mT rms magnetic field (inducing ~0.5 mV/m rms electric field) were consistently smaller than sham-treated cells, but overall morphologic alterations were not significantly different when cell orientation was not considered. When analyzed by orientation, cells oriented parallel to the induced electric field showed a significant decrease in cell length and an increase in roundness.

Outcomes measured

Cell morphology (length, width, area, perimeter, circularity/roundness, angular orientation)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
In vitro model; generalizability to in vivo/clinical outcomes not addressed
Significant effects depended on stratification by cell orientation; overall effects not significant without considering orientation

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 6e-05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "24 h"
  },
  "population": "Osteoblast-like cells (MC 3T3-E1) in monolayer culture",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cell morphology (length, width, area, perimeter, circularity/roundness, angular orientation)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Cells exposed for 24 h to a 60 Hz, 0.7 mT rms magnetic field (inducing ~0.5 mV/m rms electric field) were consistently smaller than sham-treated cells, but overall morphologic alterations were not significantly different when cell orientation was not considered. When analyzed by orientation, cells oriented parallel to the induced electric field showed a significant decrease in cell length and an increase in roundness.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "In vitro model; generalizability to in vivo/clinical outcomes not addressed",
    "Significant effects depended on stratification by cell orientation; overall effects not significant without considering orientation"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF",
    "60 Hz",
    "magnetic flux density",
    "0.7 mT",
    "induced electric field",
    "0.5 mV/m",
    "osteoblast-like cells",
    "MC 3T3-E1",
    "cell morphology",
    "cell orientation",
    "in vitro"
  ],
  "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: 10.1002/(sici)1521-186x(200002)21:2<129::aid-bem8>3.0.co;2-q
PubMed: 10653624

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