Original Article

Considerations for safety of high-frequency repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation of skeletal muscles in rats: Assessment by histological analysis of muscles and biochemical blood tests

Keita Suzuki, RPT, BS, Takashi Hiraoka, MD, PhD, Akio Tsubahara, MD, DMSc, Tomotaka Ito, RPT, PhD, Shin-Ichi Izumi, MD, PhD, Kenji Yashima, Engineer, MS, Nobuhisa Iwachidou, Medical Technologist, Associate Degree
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 6: 56-63, 2015

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the safety of high-frequency repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rpMS) of skeletal muscles using histological analyses of muscles and biochemical blood tests.
Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into the rpMS group that received rpMS and the control group (CON group) that did not receive rpMS. Hematoxylin and eosin, modified Gomori trichrome, NADH-tetrazolium reductase, acid phosphatase, and Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stains were used for histological analyses of the muscles. Creatine kinase, aldolase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured for the biochemical blood tests. Additionally, the histological analyses of the muscles were performed in two rats at 4 and 12 hours after completion of rpMS application.
Results: PAS stain showed glycogen depletion in the muscle fibers of the rpMS group. However, this finding was not observed in the rats at 4 hours after rpMS application. There was a significantly larger LDH decrease in the rpMS group compared with the CON group. No significant differences were observed for any of the other staining methods or serum enzymes between the two groups. There were no other abnormal findings in the rpMS group.
Conclusion: It was established that rpMS could be utilized safely on skeletal muscles since it did not cause muscle damage in this study.

Key words: magnetic stimulation, skeletal muscle, safety, histological analysis of muscle, biochemical blood test

Contents (volume 6)