Effects of ELF magnetic fields on signals for differentiation of cultured osteoblast like cells by ImSpector system

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the physiological effects of exposure to ELF magnetic fields on regulation of differentiation in cultured osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1) at the growing and the differentiated state. Sinusoidal (60Hz) magnetic fields were about 3 mT. Collagen or non collagen protein contents of cultures were measured microscopically by using ImSpector system. In exposure to ELF for 3 days, both collagen and non collagen protein contents increased with exposure time in the peripheral regions of culture dish than that in the central regions. The treatment of IGF increased in collagen contents in the peripheral cells for 17 days culture. But the additive effects of the exposure and IGF treatment were not observed. On 21 days cells, NGF treatments brought to increase of collagen contents. Then ALP activity was significantly increase by the exposure alone or by combined with NGF treatment. These results indicate that the mechanisms of differentiation related to IGF and NGF in the osteoblasts were altered by the magnetic fields of extremely low frequency. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S81 (2004)]