Wavelet Analysis of the Effects of Static Magnetic Field on Skin Blood Flowmotion: Investigation Using an In Vivo Rat Model

Abstract

Background: In the literature, various in vivo studies on animals have demonstrated that a static magnetic field (SMF) might maintain microvascular tone in the cutaneous microcirculatory system by its biphasic effects on vasomotion. Here, the effects of locally applied SMF on skin blood flowmotion within the stressed or unstressed skin in the trochanter area were evaluated using wavelet analysis of skin blood perfusion as measured by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in anesthetized rats. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight experimental trials were carried out on twelve Sprague-Dawley rats. Four experimental groups were formed at random: i) Group CNL (no loading or SMF exposure; n=12 trials); ii) Group SMF (SMF exposure only; n=12 trials); iii) Group L (stressed skin without SMF exposure; n=12 trials); iv) Group L+SMF (stressed skin with SMF exposure; n=12 trials). Results: SMF significantly enhanced endothelial related metabolic activity (0.01-0.05 Hz) in the stressed skin (p=0.03). However, SMF did not induce significant change in the flowmotion amplitude in the unstressed skin (p=0.22). Conclusion: The modulating effect of SMF on skin blood flowmotion might be related to the vascular tone modified by prolonged loading.