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.