Effects of physical stimulation with electromagnetic field and insulin growth factor-I treatment on proteoglycan synthesis of bovine articular cartilage.

Objective: To investigate the single and combined effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and the insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I) on proteoglycan (PG) synthesis of bovine articular cartilage explants and chondrocytes cultured in monolayers.

Design: Bovine articular cartilage explants and chondrocyte monolayers were exposed to EMF (75Hz; 1.5mT) for 24h in the absence and in the presence of both 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and IGF-I (1-100ng/ml). PG synthesis was determined by Na(2)-(35)SO(4) incorporation. PG release into culture medium was determined by the dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay.

Results: In cartilage explants, EMF significantly increased (35)S-sulfate incorporation both in the absence and in the presence of 10% FBS. Similarly, IGF-I increased (35)S-sulfate incorporation in a dose-dependent manner both in 0% and 10% FBS. At all doses of IGF-I, the combined effects of the two stimuli resulted additive. No effect was observed on medium PG release. Also in chondrocyte monolayers, IGF-I stimulated (35)S-sulfate incorporation in a dose-dependent manner, both in 0% and 10% FBS, however, this was not modified by EMF exposure.

Conclusions: The results of this study show that EMF can act in concert with IGF-I in stimulating PG synthesis in bovine articular cartilage explants. As this effect is not maintained in chondrocyte monolayers, the native cell-matrix interactions in the tissue may be fundamental in driving the EMF effects. These data suggest that in vivo the combination of both EMF and IGF may exert a more chondroprotective effect than either treatment alone on articular cartilage.