Gender-specific differences in pulsed magnetic field exposed to diabetic neuropathic rats

Type-1 diabetes mellitus is an insulin-dependent autoimmune disease, which is very common in the human populations regardless of gender. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pulsed magnetic field (PMF), a non-invasive procedure, on male and female rats with type 1 diabetes, particularly on weight loss ratios, blood glucose levels and diabetic neuropathy. Before, the experimental groups were divided into three groups as control (C (F or M), diabetes (DM (F or M), controlled diabetes (DM (F)-INS or DM (M)-INS) groups according to their sex differences, then these experimental groups were exposed to magnetic field effect (PMF). The rats in the PMF groups were exposed to the pulsed magnetic field at 50 Hz (1.5 mT intensity) for 1h/5days/month. The body weights and blood glucose levels were measured once a week over a month. Female and male diabetic rats developing diabetic neuropathy were evaluated with thermal (thermal latency) and dynamic (mechanical threshold) plantar tests. After six-weeks of PMF treatment, the weight loss rate and increased blood glucose levels due to diabetes reversed in both female and male diabetic rats upon PMF treatment (p<0.05). In diabetic neuropathic female and male rats, the thermal latency values increased, while the mechanical threshold values decreased. The reduction in diabetic neuropathic rats were statistically significant in diabetic rats (p<0.05). The increased or decreased mechanical threshold and thermal latency values in diabetic neuropathic rats were statistically significant in only male diabetic rats (p<0.05). Our studies may imply that the effect of PMF in neuropathic pain is gender dependent further inferring that hormonal mechanisms were also important in PMF dependent regulation.