Objective: The present research aimed to investigate that the static magnetic field (SMF) generated by dental magnetic attachments influenced on the cytoskeletons of human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs).
Methods: In vitro cultured HPDLCs were exposed to 10 mT and 120 mT SMF which simulated those of from the closed-field and open-field magnetic attachments respectively for 12-60 hours in a cellular SMF exposure system. The control group cells were cultured outside the SMF exposure system and were only exposed to geomagnetic field of about 0.03-0.07 mT. After finishing the SMF exposure, the cytoskeletons were observed under a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM). The image analysis software was utilized to measure and analyze the cell area, length/width ratios and the contents of F-actin of cells.
Results: There were certain changes observed in the cytoskeletons after HPDLCs exposed to 10 mT and 120 mT SMF for 12-60 hours. With the SMF strength increasing and the loading time extending, the cell microfilaments got ashorened change and a disordered arrangement inside cells, and the length/width ratios of cells decreased (P < 0.05). The areas of cells decreased after SMF loading for 60 hours (P < 0.05). The cell F-actin contents decreased after SMF loading for 12 hours (P < 0.05), but in the meantime there was no significant difference happening between the 36 or 60 hours SMF loading group and the control group (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: In this study the SMF of magnetic attachments can lead the certain changes to the cytoskeletons in HPDLCs.