THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF EMFS ON NEURAL PROCESSES/FUNCTIONS

即使在缺乏可靠的结果数据的情况下，磁性设备和疗法也正迅速在一些群体中被接受。该中心专注于电磁场治疗纤维肌痛以及CVA和闭合性头部创伤的后遗症。尽管付出了相当大的努力，但仍不清楚生物系统对治疗性应用的电磁场有何反应。通过更清楚地了解哪些基本的生物过程对期望的治疗效果负责，这一潜在的新治疗模式的开发和完善将大大推进。该项目将研究治疗性磁场对特定神经过程和功能的影响，努力勾勒出神经系统中潜在的电磁场生物传感器。这些测试将在神经系统中合理的细胞简化论模型的基础上在体外进行。在每种情况下，都将考察在基础和应力条件下的电动势效应。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。将使用培养的原代神经元并测量神经突起的再生率。2)突触的形成和成熟。分离培养的外周神经元和肌肉，以及中枢神经元，将在不同的时间检查突触的形成和功能。3)神经细胞和肌细胞的胞浆瞬间钙信号。Fura-2成像将用于检测电磁场对肌肉和人神经母细胞瘤细胞原代培养中IP3介导的钙信号的影响。4)神经营养因子的合成和释放。将检测肌肉、神经母细胞瘤和神经胶质细胞在细胞水平上产生NGF的情况。5)细胞死亡和神经保护基因表达。电磁场对诱导细胞凋亡、自由基清除剂和bcl-2的表达的影响将被测试。这些测试区中的每一个都与神经系统对损伤或紊乱的反应所涉及的生物过程有关，因此可能与磁场的治疗效果有关。这些主要是探索性的实验结果将勾勒出可能的基本生物过程，能够对EMF做出反应，并产生理想的治疗效果。

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.