Current flow in a cell with a nonlinear membrane stimulate by an electric field

The rectified current density distribution is computed for a cell exposed to an electrical field, using the Volterra approach. The cell is simulated by a membrane, composed of a capacitance in parallel with a non-linear resistor, and by external and internal media modelled with a complex dielectric constant. The net current flux on the cell surface is zero: no ion accumulation inside the cell is possible. The rectified current density distribution shows a similarity with ionic current loops found in the early developmental stage of the egg of the seaweed Fucus, which suggests possible effects on the development of other cells.