Intense Static Magnetic Field Induced Bone Growth in Vivo

Abstract

Pulsed electromagnetic fields have been used as a noninvasive procedure for treating bone fractures and pseudoarthroses in man. the contribution of the magnetic component of pulsed electromagnetic fields to skeletogenesls is not known. Female Swiss-Webster mice were exposed to a 10 kllogauss (1.0 Tesla) static magnetic field for 30 minutes on each of ten consecutive days. After exposure, the right and left femur, tibia, humerus, radius, and ulna were removed and their lengths, wet weights, and dry weights were determined. the magnetic-field exposed bones exhibited a 9-29% increase in length, a 15-29% increase in wet weight, and a 17-32% increase in dry weight as compared to the non-exposed controls. the data indicate that externally applied intense static magnetic fields may result In increased bone growth ill vivo. the Implications of these data in fusion reactor design, space travel, and clinical nuclear magnetic resonance imaging are discussed.