6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Whole Body / GeneralPart of the Glaser Archive

ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF ALVEOLAR BONE

Bioeffects Seen

Authors not listed

Share:

Direct current at 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 microamps stimulated alveolar bone regeneration in rabbit mandibles, with cathodal stimulation producing the most bone mass.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers created intrabony defects in rabbit mandibles and applied three levels of direct current for 14 days. Control mandibles showed minimal bone growth while all current-treated animals demonstrated bone growth. Cathodal stimulation was most effective for bone mass, whereas anodal stimulation showed some bone growth but also bone destruction away from defects. Tetracycline labeling confirmed active mineralization in new bone, and histology showed the electrically stimulated bone had a normal appearance. All three current levels were effective for stimulating mandibular alveolar bone.

Why This Matters

The study used 16 young male rabbits weighing 1200 to 1200 grams. A cathode was placed in a defect on one side of the mandible and an anode in a defect on the other side, with a constant current generator implanted subcutaneously behind the cervical vertebrae. Control rabbits received identical electrode placement but no current passed through their electrodes. The 14-day endpoint was selected to allow significant bone growth while ensuring reliable constant current delivery. After sacrifice, each electrode system was verified for activity with a Keithly microammeter. Tetracycline was injected at a correlation of 52 milligrams per killogram of body weight five hours before sacrifice to label mineralizing bone.

Cite This Study
Unknown (n.d.). ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF ALVEOLAR BONE.
Show BibTeX
@article{electrical_stimulation_of_alveolar_bone_g5381,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF ALVEOLAR BONE},
  year = {n.d.},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

Three experimental groups received current levels of 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 microamps delivered through silver electrodes to the mandible.
The data indicate that all three current levels were effective in stimulation of mandibular alveolar bone.
Cathodal stimulation seems to be most effective in terms of mass of bone produced.
Anodal stimulation showed some bone growth but also appeared to cause some destruction of bone away from the bony defects.
Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated tetracycline in the newly formed bone, indicating active mineralization was taking place prior to sacrifice. Histological preparations indicated that the electrically stimulated bone had a normal appearance.