The effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on blood vessel growth in the rabbit ear chamber.

A double-blind, controlled trial of the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on capillary growth in the rabbit ear chamber in adult New Zealand white rabbits has been performed. Three waveforms have been investigated. The first, a pulse burst waveform, produced a significant increase in the rate of growth of the vascular tissue within the chamber, but had no effect on macroscopic tissue maturation. The second and third, two different single pulse waveforms, had, in contrast, no significant effect on the rate of vascular growth and only an effect on vessel characteristics, with increased maturation of vessels using the second waveform. It is concluded that some of the observed effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on tissue healing may be mediated through a primary effect on vascular growth.