THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF EMFS ON NEURAL PROCESSES/FUNCTIONS

即使在缺乏可靠的结果数据的情况下，磁性设备和疗法也在一些群体中迅速得到接受。 该中心的重点是利用电磁场（EMF）治疗纤维肌痛以及CVA和闭合性头部外伤的后遗症。 尽管付出了相当大的努力，但仍然不清楚生物系统如何对治疗应用的电磁场做出反应。 通过更明确地理解什么样的基本生物过程负责所需的治疗效果，将大大推进这种潜在的新治疗模式的发展和完善。该项目将研究治疗磁场对特定神经过程和功能的影响，以努力概述神经系统中EMF的潜在生物传感器。 将在神经系统事件的合理细胞还原模型上进行体外试验。 在每种情况下，将检查基础和应力条件下的EMF效应。 具体目标将测量磁场对以下方面的影响：l）外周和中枢神经元的纤维再生。将使用培养物中的原代神经元并测量神经突的再生速率。 2)突触的形成和成熟。 将在分离后的不同时间检查外周神经元和肌肉以及中枢神经元的培养物的突触形成和功能。 3)神经和肌肉细胞中经由胞质瞬变的钙信号传导。 Fura-2成像将用于检查EMF对肌肉和人神经母细胞瘤细胞原代培养物中IP 3介导的钙信号传导的影响。 4)神经营养素的合成和释放。将检查肌肉、神经母细胞瘤和神经胶质细胞在细胞水平上的NGF产生。5)细胞死亡和神经保护基因表达。 将测试EMF对细胞凋亡诱导和自由基清除剂和bcl-2表达的影响。 这些测试领域中的每一个都涉及神经系统对损伤或障碍的反应中涉及的生物过程，因此可能涉及磁场的治疗功效。 这些主要是探索性的实验的结果将概述可能的基本生物过程能够响应电磁场与理想的治疗效果。

Magnetic devices and therapies are gaining rapid acceptance among some groups, even in the absence of reliable outcome data. This Center is focused upon the potential treatment with electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of fibromyalgia and the sequelae to CVA and closed head trauma. Despite considerable effort, it is still not clear how biological systems might be responding to therapeutically applied EMFs. The development and refinement of this potential new mode of therapy will be advanced considerably by a more explicit understanding of what basic biological processes are responsible for the desired therapeutic effects. This project will examine the effect of therapeutic magnetic fields upon specific neural processes and functions, in the effort to outline potential biosensors for EMFs in the nervous system. The tests will be conducted in vitro upon reasonable cellular reductionist models of events in the nervous system. In each case, EMF effects under basal and stressed conditions will be examined. Specific aims will measure magnetic field effects upon: l) Fiber regeneration by peripheral and central neurons. Primary neurons in culture will be used and the rate of regeneration of neurites measured. 2) Synapse formation and maturation. Cultures of peripheral neurons and muscle, as well as central neurons, will be examined for synapse formation and function at various times after isolation. 3) Calcium signaling via cytosolic transients in nerve and muscle cells. Fura-2 imaging will be used to examine EMF effects on IP3-mediated calcium signaling in primary cultures of muscle and human neuroblastoma cells. 4) Synthesis and release of neurotrophins. The production of NGF at the cellular level by muscle, neuroblastoma and glial cells will be examined. 5) Cell death and neuroprotective gene expression. EMF effects on induction of apoptosis and expression of free-radical scavengers and bcl-2 will be tested. Each of these test areas relates to a biological process involved in the response of the nervous system to injury or disorder and thus may be involved in the therapeutic efficacy of magnetic fields. The results of these largely exploratory experiments will outline likely basic biological processes capable of responding to EMF with a desirable therapeutic effect.