ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTIONS DURING CONSTANT DC CURRENT STIMULATION - ANIN-VITRO EXPERIMENT WITH CULTURED RAT CALVARIAL CELLS

While various electrode materials, methods of insertion, and levels of current and voltage have been used in animal experiments and clinical situations, the mechanism for constant direct current (DC) stimulatio n is still unknown. Little information has been provided on the behavi or of active metallic electrodes in the complex biochemical environmen t. The findings of this study are the following: (1) Electrochemical r eactions in culture medium (DMEM + 10% FBS) were recorded at a current density of 85 mu A/cm(2). Current density higher than 212 mu A/cm(2) leads to acute reactions including liberation of H-2. (2) O-2 plays an important role in the electrochemical reaction. (3) The resistance of the culture medium increased exponentially during electrical stimulat ion. (4) pH increased in the region around the cathode as a function o f current density and time.