Effect of Static Magnetic Field on Muscle Cells in Vitro

An effect of a static magnetic field on proliferation and on orientation of cultured muscle cells has been studied in vitro. An experimental system was manufactured to apply a static magnetic field to muscle cell culture. The system consists of a neodymium magnet bar, a culture dish of 52 mm internal diameter contained in a transparent plastic chamber, and an inverted phase-contrast microscope. Air including carbon dioxide in five volume percent was introduced to the chamber to maintain atmosphere. C2C12 (Mouse myoblast) cells were suspended in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium with fetal bovine serum. The suspension was poured into the plastic dish placed on the stage of the microscope, where cells are exposed to the static magnetic field around the magnet bar at 29 degrees Celsius. For a comparative study, a part of the suspension was poured into the same kind of dish without exposure to the magnetic field. The number of cells, which adhered to the bottom of the culture dish, was traced according to the time (< 120 min) during exposure to the magnetic field. The experimental results show that the cells tend to tilt to the direction of the static magnetic field of < 270 mT.