An electrodiffusion model of low-intensity electric field effects on early myelinated nerve regeneration

The authors present the results of a mathematical modeling study of imposed low-intensity electric field effects on recently transected nerve. Their electrodiffusion model is a compartmental cable implementation of transected mammalian myelinated nerve based on solution of a set of coupled finite-difference equations describing intracellular ionic current conservation and electroneutrality. The authors have found that in their model steady low-intensity electric fields can have only a modest direct suppressive effect on injury currents. Electric fields may, however, enhance early regeneration indirectly by creating an intracellular potential gradient that facilitates increased organelle electrophoresis towards the nerve tip