Effect of direct current stimulation on triradiate physeal cartilage. In vivo study in young rabbits

Abstract

Electrical stimulation with 8 microA direct current was applied to the triradiate physeal cartilage of young rabbits for periods of 3, 4, and 5 weeks. The effect was evaluated by morphometric measurement and histological observation. We tried to improve some previously described technical problems (e.g., movement of electrode during experiment) in this model of the growing acetabulum. Statistically significant differences in acetabular depth were found between the experimental and the control side in the 3-week group, but no obvious differences were found among the other measurements. Characteristic thickening of the growing physeal cartilage, especially proliferating cells, was found in the stimulated sides. Electricity affects the cell behavior in the triradiate physeal cartilage as well as the growth plate of long bone, but further study is still necessary to find more appropriate conditions to gain actual growth.