Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Epidural Intracranial Pressure Measurement in Rats Using a Fiber-optic Pressure Transducer
Published on: April 25, 2012
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mitigates High Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Induced Microvascular Shunting (MVS)
Denis E Bragin1, Olga A Bragina2, Sean Hagberg2
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA. dbragin@salud.unm.edu.
Objective:
High-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation is an emerging noninvasive therapy that we have shown increases cerebral blood flow (CBF) and tissue oxygenation in the healthy rat brain. In this work, we tested the effect of PEMF on the brain at high intracranial pressure (ICP). We previously showed that high ICP in rats caused a transition from capillary (CAP) to non-nutritive microvascular shunt (MVS) flow, tissue hypoxia and increased blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability.
Methods:
Using in vivo two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM) over the rat parietal cortex, and studied the effects of PEMF on microvascular blood flow velocity, tissue oxygenation (NADH autofluorescence), BBB permeability and neuronal necrosis during 4 h of elevated ICP to 30 mmHg.
Results:
PEMF significantly dilated arterioles, increased capillary blood flow velocity and reduced MVS/capillary ratio compared to sham-treated animals. These effects led to a significant decrease in tissue hypoxia, BBB degradation and neuronal necrosis.
Conclusions:
PEMF attenuates high ICP-induced pathological microcirculatory changes, tissue hypoxia, BBB degradation and neuronal necrosis.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Electromagnetic Fields
However, the observation of...
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Basic Equation for Pressure Field
Shunt Admittances
To model this effect, the method of images is employed. This method involves replacing the Earth with an image conductor that mirrors the original...
Induced Electric Fields

