In Vitro Effects of Therapeutic Ultrasound on the Nucleus of Human Fibroblasts

Abstract

The dose-dependent lytic effect of nonthermal ultrasound could result in fractionation of cells, which might facilitate phagocytosis during chronic inflammation. In addition, we observed an increase in chromosomal aberrations and a loss of mitotic spindles as a result of an extremely short ultrasound treatment (30 seconds). Whether these alterations are mutagenic or not warrants further study. It is possible that in our in vitro experiments, the ultrasound received was greater than would occur in a clinical situation.