The Effects of Vibroacoustically Induced Microvibrations on Arterial Blood Pressure and Oxidative Stress in Rats

Vibroacoustics, a scientific field that has been intensively studied for the last thirty years, uses the properties of sound waves (infrasound, ultrasound, noise and music) to induce vibrations that, like a sound wave, may have both useful and harmful effects. Th e aim of this study was to examine the effects of vibroacoustically induced microvibrations on arterial blood pressure and markers of oxidative stress in the blood. Th e experiments were performed on Wistar male rats that had a 180-200 g body mass and were divided into control and experimental groups (6 rats in each). In the experimental group, microvibrations were induced using the Vitafon vibroacoustic apparatus (Vitafon, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation), which delivers sound waves of varying frequencies by a process called “phoning”. Up to 60 minutes of phoning time was delivered to the kidney and liver using 4 diff erent regimens that included a 5-minute stabilisation time; up to four 10-minute phoning regimens, with 5-minute breaks between each single regimen, at a 30 Hz-18000 kHz frequency range;, and 2.8 μm-12.3 μm microwave amplitudes. After the completion of a phoning regimen, animals were sacrificed and the oxidative stress markers were measured in blood samples (O₂^-, H₂O₂, nitrites, lipid peroxidation index, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione) and compared with the values of markers in the control group. Systolic arterial pressure was analysed after the acute application of up to four diff erent regimens of vibroacoustic microvibrations. Systolic arterial pressure decreased significantly during the administration of the second regimen in comparison to the control group. Systolic arterial pressure returned, almost completely, to the initial value after the administration of the third and fourth regimens. Th ere was no significant change in diastolic arterial pressure after the acute administration of up to four different regimens, although the pressure decreased slightly after the first and second regimens and returned to the initial value during the administration of the third and fourth regimens. Analysis of oxidative stress markers showed a statistically significant change in the catalase level. No statistically significant differences were found in the other oxidative stress markers analyzeanalysed. Further research is needed to clarify the physiological effects of low compared to high frequencies of vibroacoustically induced microvibrations and their possible therapeutic significance.