D600, a Ca2+ antagonist, prevents stimulation of nerve regeneration by magnetic fields

We have found that regeneration of the rat sciatic nerve is stimulated if the rats are exposed to a 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field. In this study we investigated the effect of a Ca2+ antagonist, methoxyverapamil (D600) on this response. D600 was administered to the regenerating segment of the nerve via implanted osmotic minipumps. Magnetic field exposure increased regeneration distances in vehicle perfused nerves. This enhancement was blocked by perfusion with D600 at a concentration which alone failed to affect outgrowth of nerve fibres, lending support to the idea that Ca2+ fluxes could be involved in mediating the biological actions of magnetic fields.