Pulsed magnetic field treatment ameliorates the progression of peripheral neuropathy by modulating the neuronal oxidative stress, apoptosis and angiogenesis in a rat model of experimental diabetes.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the possible anti-neuropathic effects of daily pulsed magnetic field treatments (PMF) in streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) induced 4 weeks diabetic (type-1) wistar rats (6-8 months). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Body mass, blood glucose and thermal and mechanical sensations were evaluated during the PMF or sham-PMF in diabetic or non-diabetic rats (n = 7/group). After the measurements of motor nerve conduction velocities (MNCV), the levels of several biomarkers for oxidative stress, apoptosis and angiogenesis in spinal cord and sciatic nerve were measured. RESULTS: PMF for 4 weeks significantly recovered the MCNV (96.9% and 63.9%) and almost fully (100%) restored to the latency and threshold. PMF also significantly suppressed the diabetes induced enhances in biochemical markers of both neuronal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggested that PMF might prevent the development of functional abnormalities in diabetic rats due to its anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic actions in neuronal tissues.