A Comparison of the Electric Potential through the Membranes of Ganglion Neurons and Neuroblastoma Cells

We have modeled the electric potential profile, across the membranes of the ganglion neuron and neuroblastoma cells. We considered the resting and action potential states, and analyzed the influence of fixed charges of the membrane on the electric potential of the surface of the membranes of these cells, based on experimental values of membrane properties. The ganglion neuron portrays a healthy neuron, and the neuroblastoma cell, which is tumorous, represents a pathologic neuron. We numerically solved the non-linear Poisson-Boltzmann equation, by considering the densities of charges dissolved in an electrolytic solution and fixed on both glycocalyx and cytoplasmic proteins. We found important differences among the potential profiles of the two cells.