Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus appears in hyperglycemia mode and ulcers in extremities. Hyperglycemia can lead to impair wound healing in diabetic patients. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) with different intensities have distinctive effects on animal cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of low frequency electromagnetic field on wound healing in diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study,30 rats were divided into six groups normal control group, diabetic control group, diabetic sham-exposed and diabetic experimental groups 1 and 2 that were treated 22 days by EMF with intensity of 10 and 400 gauss for 4 hours daily. In normal control group and after diabetes induction in diabetic groups, wounds with length of 4 cm in two sides of the dorsal body were created. Then, samples were exposed to electromagnetic radiation and investigated the percentage of wound healing on days 1, 2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22. Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey at the level of 0.05.

Results: The percentage of wound healing on days 10, 14, 18 and 22 in diabetic experimental group 1 in comparison to diabetic control group increased significantly (p=0.015), (p=0.009), (p=0.002) and (p=0.018).  The percentage of wound healing on days 14, 18 and 22 in diabetic experimental group 2 compared with diabetic control group decreased significantly (p=0.029), (p=0.015) and (p=0.022).

Conclusion: Electromagnetic field with intensities of 10 and 400 gauss  has different effects on wound healing in diabetic samples. Low intensities accelerate wound healing and high intensities inhibit wound healing. 

Keywords: Electromagnetic field, Wound healing, Diabetes, Rat

Funding: This research was funded by Islamic Azad University of Mashhad.

Ethical approval: None declared.

Conflict of interest: The Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Mashhad approved the study.

How to cite this article: Sadooghi SD. Investigating the Effects of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2014 13(3): 207-22.