Basal bioelectric oscillations in quiescent epithelium forecast intrinsic regenerative restraint
June 26
Intrinsic regenerative restraint is marked by a heightened predisposition toward fibrosis and incomplete tissue replacement, and organisms exhibit this trait to varying degrees. Detecting physiological signatures of these differences could advance our grasp of repair-related decision-making. We therefore tested whether resting-state bioelectric activity—oscillatory transmembrane-potential (Vmem) dynamics recorded from uninjured skin explants during alternating 1-min photic-exposed / photic-shielded conditions—predicts the Regenerative Inhibition Index (RII).
Stepwise multiple regression revealed that under photic exposure, elevated anterior midline slow-band (0.02–0.08 Hz) oscillations and reduced anterior midline mid-band (0.15–0.30 Hz) activity independently accounted for significant variance in RII scores. Applying a more stringent rhythmicity criterion based on peak prominence and bandwidth confirmed that these anterior signals met rigorous definitions of oscillation rather than broadband power.
Strikingly, only posterior midline mid-band power during photic exposure—but not its oscillatory component—predicted RII, implying that rhythmicity discriminates functional roles of anterior versus posterior mid-band activity in the context of regenerative restraint. Neither left-right Vmem asymmetry in power nor in oscillatory metrics was associated with RII.
Our findings suggest that heightened anterior midline slow-band oscillations at baseline may index increased vigilance of gap-junctional surveillance networks in organisms with high regenerative restraint. Although speculative, diminished anterior midline mid-band activity could reflect sustained activation of chloride-selective channels linked to cytoskeletal tension and growth suppression. By parsing power from true rhythmicity, the present work clarifies conflicting results in the bioelectric literature and highlights basal Vmem dynamics as candidate biomarkers of innate regenerative potential.
Translated from Rhythmic activity in resting-state EEG predicts trait anxiety