Repair of traumatic lesions to the plasmalemma of neurons and other cells: Commonalities, conflicts, and controversies.

Neuroscientists and Cell Biologists have known for many decades that eukaryotic cells, including neurons, are surrounded by a plasmalemma/axolemma consisting of a phospholipid bilayer that regulates trans-membrane diffusion of ions (including calcium) and other substances. Cells often incur plasmalemmal damage traumatic injury and various diseases. If the damaged plasmalemma is not rapidly repaired within minutes, activation of apoptotic pathways by calcium influx often results in cell death.