Figure 5

Time course of effects of a 3-tesla electromagnetic field on glycosaminoglycan synthesis. Cartilage explants derived from bovine metacarpophalangeal joints were incubated in serum-free basal medium (BM) and subjected to an electromagnetic field (EMF). The control group was left unexposed. The total proteoglycan synthesis rate was evaluated on days 0, 3 and 6 after exposure. Values were normalized to hydroxyproline content of the explants. Values are means and SD. (a) Exposure of juvenile bovine cartilage (n = 5) to a 3-tesla EMF. The white columns represent the unexposed controls (control), the grey columns the samples exposed to the EMF (pulsed EMF). *p < 0.0001 control versus 'pulsed EMF', **p < 0.02 'pulsed EMF' versus control. (b) Exposure of adult bovine cartilage (n = 3) to a 3-tesla EMF. The white columns represent the unexposed controls (control), the grey columns the samples exposed to the EMF (pulsed EMF). * p < 0.008 control versus 'pulsed EMF'. (c) To evaluate the effects of an EMF of less than 3 T, adult bovine cartilage (n = 5) was exposed to a 1.5-tesla EMF. The white columns represent the unexposed controls (control), the grey columns the samples exposed to the EMF. No significant difference between the groups could be determined.