Gap junctions increase the sensitivity of tissue cells to exogenous electric fields.
Cells coupled by gap junctions will react as a single unit to an applied electric field. In a given field, the hyperpolarization and depolarization of cell membranes at the ends of an electrotonically coupled tissue are increases by a factor of 10-100 over single, uncoupled cells. Gap junctional coupling therefore increases the likelihood that cells are influenced by the weak electric fields which are commonly found in developing and regenerating tissues.
D000663:Amphibians; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D003063:Cnidaria / Q000502:physiology; D004175:Diptera; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004560:Electricity; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008954:Models, Biological; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000502:physiology