Preventive effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on osteoporosis model induced by ovariectomy

To investigate the preventive effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) with specific parameters on osteoporosis, thirty 3-month old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three different groups: normal control group (SHAM group), ovariectomized control group (OVX group), pulsed electromagnetic fields exposing group (PEMFs group), each group had 10 rats. Rats in the SHAM group received the dorsal switch operation, and the other two groups were ovariectomized bilaterally; PEMFs group were exposed to pulsed electromagenetic fields with frequency 15 Hz, peak magnetic induction density 2.2mT and exposure time 2 hours per day, OVX and SHAM group served as control groups. Bone mineral density (BMD) of vertebra and left femur were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (NORLAND DXA-X36) after surgery. In the experimental period, the corrected vertebral BMD of PEMFs group is significantly higher than that of OVX group separately (P < 0.001 at 16 weeks, P < 0.01 at 24 weeks). The corrected femoral BMD of PEMFs groups is significantly different form that of OVX group (P < 0.001 at 16weeks, P < 0.01 at 24weeks). The corrected BMD of PEMFs is still lower than those of SHAM groups. Experimental results indicate that extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields slowed down the speed of corrected vertebral and femoral BMD loss in ovariectomized rats and verify the preventive effects on osteoporosis rats induced by bilateral ovariectomy. Consequently, we conclude that PEMFs exposure, a noninvasive treatment, would be beneficial to the osteoposotic diseases.

Duke Scholars

Author Xiaowei Yang Computer Science