Figure 8.

The polarity of the electrical current is a key feature in wound healing.

Notes: In isolated cell culture, neutrophils, vascular endothelial cells, and macrophages migrate toward the anode, and monocytes, fibroblasts, and epidermal cells toward the cathode (A). The polarity of the applied electrical current directly affects the direction of the cell migration on a scratch assay with a monolayer of corneal epithelial cells (B) and fibroblasts (C). Figure B adapted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: Nature. Zhao M, Song B, Pu J, et al. Electrical signals control wound healing through phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase-gamma and PTEN. 2006;442(7101):457–460. Copyright 2006. Available from http://www.nature.com/.²⁰ Figure C data from Pu and Zhao.¹⁹