Effect of microcurrent electrical tissue stimulation on equine tenocytes in culture.
Abstract: To determine effects of microcurrent electrical tissue stimulation (METS) on equine tenocytes cultured from the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT). Methods: SDFTs were collected from 20 horses at slaughter. Methods: Tenocytes were isolated following outgrowth from explants and grown in 48-well plates. Four methods of delivering current to the tenocytes with a METS device were tested. Once the optimal method was selected, current consisting of 0 (negative control), 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mA was applied to cells (8 wells/current intensity) once daily for 8 minutes. Cells were treated for 1, 2, or 3 days. Cell proliferation, DNA content, protein content, and apoptosis rate were determined. Results: Application of microcurrent of moderate intensity increased cell proliferation and DNA content, with greater increases with multiple versus single application. Application of microcurrent of moderate intensity once or twice increased protein content, but application 3 times decreased protein content. Application of current a single time did not significantly alter apoptosis rate; however, application twice or 3 times resulted in significant increases in apoptosis rate, and there were significant linear (second order) correlations between current intensity and apoptosis rate when current was applied twice or 3 times. Conclusions: Results of the present study indicate that microcurrent affects the behavior of equine tenocytes in culture, but that effects may be negative or positive depending on current intensity and number of applications. Therefore, results are far from conclusive with respect to the suitability of using METS to promote tendon healing in horses.
Publication Date: 2006-02-04 PubMed ID: 16454632DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.67.2.271Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the impact of Microcurrent Electrical Tissue Stimulation (METS) on horse tendon cells cultivated from the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon with the aim to determine if METS could potentially promote tendon healing in horses.
Methodology
- The tenocytes (tendon cells) were cultured from the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT) collected from 20 horses at slaughter.
- These cells were then grown in a controlled environment using 48-well plates.
- The methodology involved testing four methods of delivering current to the tenocytes with a METS device. Once the optimal method was finalized, varying magnitudes of current (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mA) were applied to cells for a duration of eight minutes per day over the period of 1, 2, or 3 days.
- The response and overall health of the cells were monitored by observing the cell proliferation, DNA content, protein content, and apoptosis (cell death) rates.
Results
- Results indicated that application of a moderate intensity microcurrent led to increased cell proliferation and DNA content. They also observed that multiple applications led to higher increases compared to a single application.
- On applying microcurrent of moderate intensity once or twice, protein content increased. But, a third application resulted in decreased protein content.
- With respect to apoptosis rates, a single application of the current did not significantly alter the rates. However, when the current was applied twice or three times, the apoptosis rates considerably increased indicating cell death. There were significant linear correlations observed between current intensity and apoptosis rate when the current was applied twice or three times.
Conclusion
- The study found that microcurrent does indeed affect the behavior of equine tenocytes in culture.
- However, the impact could be either negative or positive depending on current intensity and number of applications, hence the results of the study are still inconclusive when deciding on the efficacy of using METS for promoting tendon healing in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Lin YL, Moolenaar H, van Weeren PR, van de Lest CH.
(2006).
Effect of microcurrent electrical tissue stimulation on equine tenocytes in culture.
Am J Vet Res, 67(2), 271-276.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.67.2.271 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Cell Proliferation
- Cells, Cultured
- Electric Stimulation
- Horses
- Tendons / cytology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Silva DFD, de Oliveira Fujii L, Chiarotto GB, de Oliveira CA, de Andrade TAM, de Oliveira ALR, Esquisatto MAM, Mendonça FAS, Dos Santos GMT, de Aro AA. Influence of microcurrent on the modulation of remodelling genes in a wound healing assay. Mol Biol Rep 2021 Feb;48(2):1233-1241.
- Spadari GS, Zaniboni E, Vedovello SA, Santamaria MP, do Amaral ME, Dos Santos GM, Esquisatto MA, Mendonca FA, Santamaria M Jr. Electrical stimulation enhances tissue reorganization during orthodontic tooth movement in rats. Clin Oral Investig 2017 Jan;21(1):111-120.
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