Experimental study on the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields_Journal of Biomedical Engineering

Authors：

AN Zi-dong ^1,2 , WANG Li-qiang ^1,2 , WU Yi ¹ , PANG Yong-jie ¹ , CHEN Ke-ming ^1,2 ,  GAO Yu-hai ¹

1. Fundmental Medicial Science Research Laboratory, the 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Lanzhou 730050, P. R. China;
2. School of Clinical Chinese Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China;

Corresponding author：

GAO Yu-hai, Email: gyh1389@126.com

Keywords：

Osteoporosis; Low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field; Bone mineral density; Bone formation; Bone resorption

DOI：

10.7507/1001-5515.202501026

Video：

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This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of 50 Hz-0.6 mT low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Thirty 3-month-old female SD rats were selected and divided into a sham operation group (Sham), an ovariectomized model group (OVX), and a low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment group, with 10 rats in each group. After 8 weeks, the whole-body bone mineral density (BMD) of each group of rats was measured. The treatment group began to receive PEMF stimulation for 90 minutes daily, while the OVX group only received a simulated placement without electricity. After 6 weeks of intervention, all rats were sacrificed and tested for in vitro BMD, micro-CT, biomechanics, serum biochemical indicators, and bone tissue-related proteins. The results showed that the BMD of the OVX group was significantly lower than that of the Sham group 8 weeks after surgery, indicating successful modeling. After 6 weeks of treatment, compared with the OVX group, the PEMF group exhibited significantly increased BMD in the whole body, femur, and vertebral bodies. Micro-CT analysis results showed improved bone microstructure, significantly increased maximum load and bending strength of the femur, elevated levels of serum bone formation markers, and increased expression of osteogenic-related proteins. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that daily 90-minute exposure to 50 Hz-0.6 mT PEMF effectively enhances BMD, improves bone biomechanical properties, optimizes bone microstructure, stimulates bone formation, and inhibits bone resorption in ovariectomized rats, highlighting its therapeutic potential for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

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4.	田永辉, 李文苑, 高玉海, 等. 低频脉冲电磁场对青年大鼠峰值骨量的影响研究. 中国骨伤, 2020, 33(3): 224-229.
5.	Li W Y, Li X Y, Tian Y H, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields prevented the decrease of bone formation in hindlimb-suspended rats by activating sAC/cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway. Bioelectromagnetics, 2018, 39(8): 569-584.
6.	Wang T, Yang L, Jiang J, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields: promising treatment for osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int, 2019, 30(2): 267-276.
7.	Wang P, Tang C, Wu J, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields regulate osteocyte apoptosis, RANKL/OPG expression, and its control of osteoclastogenesis depending on the presence of primary cilia. J Cell Physiol, 2019, 234(7): 10588-10601.
8.	Shao X, Yan Z, Wang D, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields ameliorate skeletal deterioration in bone mass, microarchitecture, and strength by enhancing canonical Wnt signaling-mediated bone formation in rats with spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma, 2021, 38(6): 765-776.
9.	Lei T, Liang Z, Li F, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) attenuate changes in vertebral bone mass, architecture and strength in ovariectomized mice. Bone, 2018, 108: 10-19.
10.	Xie Y F, Shi W G, Zhou J, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields stimulate osteogenic differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts by upregulating the expression of BMPRII localized at the base of primary cilium. Bone, 2016, 93: 22-32.
11.	Cheng G, Zhai Y, Chen K, et al. Sinusoidal electromagnetic field stimulates rat osteoblast differentiation and maturation via activation of NO–cGMP–PKG pathway. Nitric Oxide, 2011, 25(3): 316-325.
12.	Song Z H, Xie W, Zhu S Y, et al. Effects of PEMFs on Osx, Ocn, TRAP, and CTSK gene expression in postmenopausal osteoporosis model mice. Int J Clin Exp Pathol, 2018, 11(3): 1784-1790.
13.	Zhou J, Gao Y H, Zhu B Y, et al. Sinusoidal electromagnetic fields increase peak bone mass in rats by activating Wnt10b/β-catenin in primary cilia of osteoblasts. J Bone Miner Res, 2019, 34(7): 1336-1351.
14.	何玥颖, 陈克明, 魏朋, 等. 低频脉冲电磁场通过PC2/sAC/PKA/CREB信号途径促进大鼠颅骨成骨细胞的矿化和成熟. 南方医科大学学报, 2022, 42(7): 988-996.
15.	高玉海, 何文芳, 刘菁, 等. 脉冲群电磁场对体外培养成骨细胞增殖与矿化的影响. 解放军医药杂志, 2021, 33(5): 5-8,18.
16.	Yousefzadeh N, Kashfi K, Jeddi S, et al. Ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis: a practical guide. EXCLI J, 2020, 19: 89-107.

1. 中华医学会骨质疏松和骨矿盐疾病分会; 章振林. 原发性骨质疏松症诊疗指南(2022). 中国全科医学, 2023, 26(14): 1671-1691.
2. 何文芳, 李雪雁, 任莉, 等. 低频脉冲电磁场通过PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin信号途径促进成骨细胞矿化成熟. 中国生物化学与分子生物学报, 2020, 36(12): 1464-1472.
3. 闫娟丽, 王鸣刚, 陈克明, 等. 不同强度50Hz脉冲电磁场促进大鼠颅骨成骨细胞矿化成熟最佳参数的筛选. 中国生物化学与分子生物学报, 2014, 30(7): 721-729.
4. 田永辉, 李文苑, 高玉海, 等. 低频脉冲电磁场对青年大鼠峰值骨量的影响研究. 中国骨伤, 2020, 33(3): 224-229.
5. Li W Y, Li X Y, Tian Y H, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields prevented the decrease of bone formation in hindlimb-suspended rats by activating sAC/cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway. Bioelectromagnetics, 2018, 39(8): 569-584.
6. Wang T, Yang L, Jiang J, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields: promising treatment for osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int, 2019, 30(2): 267-276.
7. Wang P, Tang C, Wu J, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields regulate osteocyte apoptosis, RANKL/OPG expression, and its control of osteoclastogenesis depending on the presence of primary cilia. J Cell Physiol, 2019, 234(7): 10588-10601.
8. Shao X, Yan Z, Wang D, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields ameliorate skeletal deterioration in bone mass, microarchitecture, and strength by enhancing canonical Wnt signaling-mediated bone formation in rats with spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma, 2021, 38(6): 765-776.
9. Lei T, Liang Z, Li F, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) attenuate changes in vertebral bone mass, architecture and strength in ovariectomized mice. Bone, 2018, 108: 10-19.
10. Xie Y F, Shi W G, Zhou J, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic fields stimulate osteogenic differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts by upregulating the expression of BMPRII localized at the base of primary cilium. Bone, 2016, 93: 22-32.
11. Cheng G, Zhai Y, Chen K, et al. Sinusoidal electromagnetic field stimulates rat osteoblast differentiation and maturation via activation of NO–cGMP–PKG pathway. Nitric Oxide, 2011, 25(3): 316-325.
12. Song Z H, Xie W, Zhu S Y, et al. Effects of PEMFs on Osx, Ocn, TRAP, and CTSK gene expression in postmenopausal osteoporosis model mice. Int J Clin Exp Pathol, 2018, 11(3): 1784-1790.
13. Zhou J, Gao Y H, Zhu B Y, et al. Sinusoidal electromagnetic fields increase peak bone mass in rats by activating Wnt10b/β-catenin in primary cilia of osteoblasts. J Bone Miner Res, 2019, 34(7): 1336-1351.
14. 何玥颖, 陈克明, 魏朋, 等. 低频脉冲电磁场通过PC2/sAC/PKA/CREB信号途径促进大鼠颅骨成骨细胞的矿化和成熟. 南方医科大学学报, 2022, 42(7): 988-996.
15. 高玉海, 何文芳, 刘菁, 等. 脉冲群电磁场对体外培养成骨细胞增殖与矿化的影响. 解放军医药杂志, 2021, 33(5): 5-8,18.
16. Yousefzadeh N, Kashfi K, Jeddi S, et al. Ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis: a practical guide. EXCLI J, 2020, 19: 89-107.

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