Electromagnetic field exposed stem cells repaired Parkinson's disease symptoms in a rat model

Some growth factors and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are capable to differentiate bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) into neural cells. EMF may induce BMMSCs to differentiate into dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Our aim was to analyze the influence of EMF on BMMSCs in the treatment of rat models of Parkinson's disease.

BMMSCs were extracted from the rat’s hind limbs and incubated in a cell-cultured CO2 incubator. After the third passage, the BMMSCs were exposed to sinusoidal and square waveform EMF (400 µT, 75 Hz, 1 h/day - 1 week or 7 h/1 day) and injected into the substantia nigra region of Parkinson rats.

The results confirmed an increased number of TH+ neurons, a reduction of activated astrocytes, and an improvement in locomotor activity (Pole test) of sinusoidal EMF groups.

We presented a low-frequency sinusoidal EMF that increased BMMSCs’ differentiation into DA neurons. The results indicated that injection of BMMSC exposed to sinusoidal 75 Hz EMF may increase TH+ cells in SNpc and motor coordination activity in the rat model of Parkinson's disease.