Biphasic effects of static magnetic fields on cutaneous microcirculation in rabbits

The biphasic effects of locally applied static magnetic fields (SMF) on the cutaneous microcirculation within a rabbit ear chamber (REC) were evaluated under conscious conditions. The microcirculatory vasomotion within a REC was measured continuously and analyzed multilaterally by microphotoelectric plethysmography, a real-time image analyzer and an image shearing monitor. SMF intensities at the REC were controlled at 1 mT and the duration of exposure was 10 min. Seventy-eight experimental trials were carried out on 22 healthy adult rabbits weighing 2.6-3.5 kg. Five experimental groups were chosen at random: 1) no pharmacological treatment or SMF exposure, 2) increased vascular tone induced by noradrenaline infusion without SMF exposure, 3) increased vascular tone induced by noradrenaline infusion with SMF exposure, 4) decreased vascular tone induced by acetylcholine infusion without SMF exposure, 5) decreased vascular tone induced by acetylcholine infusion with SMF exposure. The results demonstrated that SMF significantly enhanced vasodilatation, with increased vasomotion under noradrenaline-induced high vascular tone as well as vasoconstriction with reduced vasomotion under acetylcholine-induced low vascular tone. This suggests, therefore, that SMF can modulate vascular tone due to biphasic modification of vasomotion in the cutaneous tissue.