Electric field stimulation of human osteosarcoma-derived cells: a dose-response study.

In vitro electrical stimulation of human osteosarcoma-derived cells resulted in increased cell adherence and current directed cell migration. We have developed an electrical exposure system in which two steel electrodes imbedded in media-based agar, poured in a standard culture dish, are used to apply electric field signals to cells in culture without ion contamination from the electrodes. The cells were exposed to a 100 Hz pulsed DC electric signal at peak field strengths of 1, 10, 100, and 625 mV/cm in the culture media. The data showed no change in cell adherence at 1 and 10 mV/cm, an increase in adherence at 100 mV/cm, and a decrease in both adherence and cell proliferation at 625 mV/cm. Electric field stimulation in vivo has been found useful in accelerating the healing of fractures and non-unions, and the repair of surgical and cancer-related skeletal defects.