The analysis of the mechanism of neuritogenesis by pulsed electromagnetic field and the control method of the elongating neurite direction

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25861880
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Dental engineering/Regenerative dentistry
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Tada-aki Kudo 東北大学, 歯学研究科(研究院), 助教 (50431606)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: パルス磁場刺激 / PC12細胞 / 神経細胞分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Previously, we developed a novel method for inducing neuritogenesis (NG) using a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) with an exciting coil in rat-derived PC12 cells, which are a model of neuronal differentiation. However, the mechanism that enhances NG is still unknown. In the present study, we examined the mechanism of NG due to PEMF, the effect of Joule heating on NG, and the possibility of PEMF affecting the direction of NG. We demonstrated that the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway is essential in the process of PEMF-induced NG and that the Joule heat generated by the coil partially contributes to the PEMF-mediated induction of neuronal differentiation. We also found that it is possible to efficiently differentiate the cells into neuronal cells by thermal stimulation alone and that it is difficult to regulate the direction of NG using a mono-directional and parallel magnetic field with a custom-made exciting coil as used in the present study.

Free Research Field

生理学、分子生物学、再生医歯学