Objective To evaluate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on inflammatory and oxidative stress damage caused by ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in rat's serum.
MethodsThirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated in six groups (n=6 each): Blank control group: the rats were given nothing to treat. Saline control group: the rats were exposed to normal saline by instillation. PM2.5 control group: rats were exposed to PM2.5 saline suspension by intra-tracheal instillation every other day for three times with the dose of 40mg/kg body weight. PEMF treatment groups: two groups of rats were treated with active PEMF for 3 or 5 cycles per day after exposed to PM2.5 saline suspension. PEMF control group: rats were treated with active PEMF for 5 cycles per day without PM2.5 saline suspension exposure. Saline and PM2.5 were given in the first five days. From the sixth day to nineteenth day, active PEMF therapy was given. Rat's serum was collected 24 hours after the last treatment cycle to analyze the markers related to inflammation and oxidative stress.
ResultsThe tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat's serum of PM2.5-exposed groups were significantly higher than those of saline control group. Meanwhile, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was decreased in PM2.5-exposed groups. Compared with PM2.5 control group, the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA were decreased and the activities of GSH-Px and total-superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) were increased in PEMF treatment group (3 cycles per day). There were no significant differences among the groups of blank control group, saline control group and PEMF control group.
ConclusionsPEMF treatment may show antagonistic effects on inflammatory and oxidative stress damage caused by PM2.5 in rat's serum.
DownLoad: