NGOK CHENG, M.D., HARRY VAN HOOF, M.D., EMMANUEL BOCKX, M.D.,
MICHEL J. HOOGMARTENS, M.D., JOSEPH C. MULIER, M.D., RANS J. DE DUCKER, PH. D., WILLY M. SANSEN, PH. D., WILLIAM DE LOECKER, M.D. (1982) Direct electric currents ranging from 10 μA to 1000 μA increase ATP concentrations in the tissue and stimulate amino acid incorporation into the proteins of skin. The amino acid transport through the cell membrane is stimulated between 100 μA and 750 μA. Minimum current intensities of approximately 50 μA are necessary to obtain a maximal stimulatory effect on protein synthesis. Electrostimulation seems to increase protein synthesizing activity primarily and independently, although subsequent stimulation of amino acid transport results in an additional increase in the amino acid incorporation into the proteins. Only when high currents, above 1000 μA, are applied, may electrolysis adversely affect metabolism. With higher currents the inhibitory effects are first observed on amino acid transport, which is more drastically affected than protein synthesis...