Electrical potential of cells

The “electrical potential of cells” most commonly refers to the membrane potential, the voltage difference across a cell’s plasma membrane arising from ionic concentration gradients and selective permeability, typically about −50 to −75 mV in resting neurons. It reflects combined electrical potential differences across membranes due to all charged species and is tightly coupled to cellular metabolism and redox processes. While essential for excitability, signaling, and regulating cell state, it is a biophysical property rather than a discrete molecule or receptor; thus, it is not a canonical therapeutic target. Pharmacologic modulation typically acts on ion channels, pumps, or transporters that establish and change membrane potential, rather than on the potential itself.

Other names

Membrane potentialResting membrane potentialTransmembrane potentialCell membrane voltageElectrical potential difference across the membrane

Not applicable directly; therapeutics modulate membrane potential indirectly by altering ion channel/transport activity (e.g., blocking Na+, K+, Ca2+ channels; modulating pump/transporters)