The effect of intercellular medium salinity on the dielectric constant of cell membranes and the excitation thresholds of the action potential

Abstract

A mechanism for axon swelling in the area of action potential passage, which is associated with a localized increase in charge on the membrane surfaces when Na^+ ions flow from the extracellular electrolyte into the intracellular space, is considered in this study. A comparative analysis of the effect of electrostatic forces and the changes in osmotic pressure is performed. The change in dielectric constant of the axon membrane is also discussed, and a possible explanation for the decrease in the excitation threshold of the action potential with an increase in salinity of the external electrolyte is proposed.