This study was performed electrophysiologically and histologically to know the regenerating potentiality of pulsing electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) to damaged nerves.
The bilateral sciatic nerves of 55 rats were completely transected and then sutured. PEMFs stimulation of 12 hours a day to the sutured nerves were performed in 28 rats for 3, 4 and 6 weeks, and the other 27 rats were fed without PEMFs stimulation as a control. Nerve conduction velocity was measured in all these rats, and then the nerves were resected for microscopic specimens to calculate the number of nerve fibers.
The obtained results of the conduction velocity showed a higher value in rats with PEMFs than in the control. Nerve regeneration remarkably occurred by 4 weeks after operation in rats with PEMFs. Histologically, the numbers of the large fibers (3.0μm≤diameter) in rats with PEMFs were greater than in the control. The total number of nerve fibers was greater in the PEMFs rats 3 weeks after operation. This study indicated that PEMFs would act effectively on the regenerating nerve, and it seemed that PEMFs might develop axonal sprouts in the damaged nerve.