Exploring Ferritin’s Potential Role in Saltatory Conduction

The current model of saltatory conduction portrays myelin sheaths as insulating tissue wrapped tightly around the neuronal axon. Recent experimental data suggests that this model is inaccurate, and that saltatory conduction involves a conductive periaxonal circuit. Ferritin has been suggested as a charge transporter involved in the periaxonal circuitry. This review aims to propose and provide evidence for a more detailed model, where myelination increases signal transmission speed by creating a circuit with parallel branches of ferritin wires.