Ann Rehabil Med.  2012 Jun;36(3):311-319. 10.5535/arm.2012.36.3.311.

Effect of Magnetic Stimulation in Spinal Cord on Limb Angiogenesis and Implication: A Pilot Study

• Lee D
• Beom J
• Oh BM
• Seo KS

• KMID: 2266735
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2012.36.3.311

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) of the spinal cord on limb angiogenesis in healthy rats and explore its implication for the treatment of lymphedema. METHOD: Twelve adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups as follows: sham rMS followed by tissue harvest 5 minutes later (group 1, n=2), 1 Hz rMS and tissue harvest 5 minutes later (group 2, n=3), 20 Hz rMS and tissue harvest 5 minutes later (group 3, n=3), 20 Hz rMS and tissue harvest 30 minutes later (group 4, n=4). Animals were treated with 20-minute rMS with 120% of the motor threshold on their left side of upper lumbar spinal cord. Expression of angiogenic factors, that is, Akt, phospho-Akt (pAkt), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phospho-eNOS (p-eNOS) were measured by western blot. Bilateral hindlimb muscles (quadriceps and gastrocnemius) were harvested.
RESULTS
Expression of Akt in left quadriceps increased in group 4 compared with group 2 and 3 (3.4 and 5.3-fold each, p=0.026). Expression of eNOS in left plus right quadriceps markedly increased in group 3 and 4 compared with group 1 and 2 (p=0.007). Expressions of eNOS, Akt and p-eNOS, pAkt in gastrocnemius were not comparable between four groups (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Repetitive magnetic stimulation of the spinal cord may exert an angiogenic effect closely linked to lymphangiogenesis. It has clinical implication for the possible therapy of lymphedema caused by breast, cervical or endometrial cancer operation. Future studies with the specific lymphatic endothelial cell markers are required to confirm the effect of rMS on lymphangiogenesis.

Keyword

Magnetic stimulation; Spinal cord; Angiogenesis; Lymphedema; Lymphangiogenesis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
Animals
Blotting, Western
Breast
Endometrial Neoplasms
Endothelial Cells
Extremities
Female
Hindlimb
Humans
Lymphangiogenesis
Lymphedema
Magnetics
Magnets
Male
Muscles
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
Pilot Projects
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Salicylamides
Spinal Cord
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
Salicylamides

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Repetitive magnetic stimulation on the left side of upper lumbar spinal cord.

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  Fig. 2 eNOS and Akt expressions in quadriceps muscle. Western blots of left (A) and right (B) quadriceps, eNOS (C) and Akt (D) expressions in left quadriceps, eNOS (E) and Akt (F) expressions in left+right quadriceps. Expression of Akt in left quadriceps increased in group 4 compared with group 2 and 3 (3.4 and 5.3-fold each, p=0.026). Expression of eNOS in left+right quadriceps markedly increased in group 3 and 4 (6.4 and 7.7-fold each compared with group 1, 3.5 and 4.2-fold each compared with group 2, p=0.007).

• 

  Fig. 3 eNOS and Akt expressions in gastrocnemius muscle. Western blots of left (A) and right (B) gastrocnemius, eNOS (C) and Akt (D) expressions in left gastrocnemius, eNOS (E) and Akt (F) expressions in left+right gastrocnemius. Expressions of eNOS and Akt in gastrocnemius were not comparable between four groups (p>0.05).

• 

  Fig. 4 p-eNOS and pAkt expressions in gastrocnemius muscle. Western blots of left (A) gastrocnemius, p-eNOS (B) and pAkt (C) expressions in left gastrocnemius. Expressions of p-eNOS and pAkt in gastrocnemius were not comparable between four groups (p>0.05).

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