Electromagnetic (EM) fields have been used quite extensively in an attempt to improve bone healing, but the area remains controversial. One of the reasons for the controversy is that the basic mechanism by which EM fields affect bone cells is not known. This proposed project is to examine whether ion cyclotron resonance, leading to altered membrane transport of specific ions, might be the mechanism of altered bone function. Specifically, this work will examine whether calcium ion transport is enhanced as a result of cyclotrone resonance induced by EM fields, and whether this effect is dependent on the magnitude of the applied fields. This is a fundamental study that may have great significance for eventually improving engineering methods by which EM stimulation is used to improve bone healing.
