Effects of electric current on chondrogenesis in vitro.

The effect of direct electric current (5 muamp) on mesenchymal cell differentiation into cartilage was investigated in explants of fetal rat muscle and bone matrix gelatin. In this system, chondrogenesis in vitro corresponds in developmental potential to osteogenesis in vivo. Application of electric current inhibited differentiation of muscle derived mesenchymal cells, but enhanced proliferation of differentiated chondrocytes and formation of cartilage at the cathode region, and had no effect on mature hypertrophic chondrocytes. Application of electric current may be contraindicated in fracture at the very early stage of fracture treatment and effective at the cathode region only for preexisting and proliferating cells. Electric current also may not be effective for mature cells having no potential for proliferation.