[Effects of low frequency pulsed magnetic field on the proliferation and differentiation of HepG2 cells].

Objective: To study the effects of low frequency pulsed magnetic field on the proliferation and differentiation of HepG2 cells.

Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) colorimetry method and ELISA assay of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were used to determine the cell proliferation and differentiation after the cells were exposed to pulsed magnetic fields with different frequency but the same field intensity.

Results: There were no significant differences in cell proliferation between sham and treated groups exposed to the field of 80 Hz, 1.55 mT for 1, 4, 8, 12, 24 h (P > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in cell proliferation and AFP secretion between sham and treated groups exposed to 16 Hz, 1.55 mT pulsed magnetic fields for 1, 4, 8, 24 h (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: There were no "window effects" found in HepG2 cells proliferation or AFP secretion at 16 Hz and 80 Hz pulsed magnetic fields.