Mathematical modeling of electrical activity of uterine muscle cells

Med Biol Eng Comput. 2009 Jun;47(6):665-75. doi: 10.1007/s11517-009-0433-4. Epub 2009 Mar 20.

Abstract

The uterine electrical activity is an efficient parameter to study the uterine contractility. In order to understand the ionic mechanisms responsible for its generation, we aimed at building a mathematical model of the uterine cell electrical activity based upon the physiological mechanisms. First, based on the voltage clamp experiments found in the literature, we focus on the principal ionic channels and their cognate currents involved in the generation of this electrical activity. Second, we provide the methodology of formulations of uterine ionic currents derived from a wide range of electrophysiological data. The model is validated step by step by comparing simulated voltage-clamp results with the experimental ones. The model reproduces successfully the generation of single spikes or trains of action potentials that fit with the experimental data. It allows analyzing ionic channels implications. Likewise, the calcium-dependent conductance influences significantly the cellular oscillatory behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Animals
  • Calcium Channels / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological*
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / physiology*
  • Myometrium / cytology
  • Myometrium / physiology*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Potassium Channels / physiology
  • Rats

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • Potassium Channels