A Model to Study Effect of Rapid Buffers and Na+ on Ca2+ Oscillations in Neuron Cell

Abstract

Ca 2+ plays a vital role in muscle mechanics, cardiac electrophysiology, secretion, hair cells, and adaptation in photore-ceptors. It is a vital second messenger used in signal transduction. Calcium controls cell movement, cell differentiation, ciliary beating. Many cells exhibit oscillations in intracellular [Ca 2+ ] in response to agonist such as hormones and neuro-transmitters. Many cells use oscillations in calcium concentration to transmit messages (Sneyd J. et al, 2006, p. 151-163). In this paper, an attempt has been made to develop a model to study calcium oscillations in neuron cells. This model incorporates the effect of variable Na + influx, sodium-calcium exchange (NCX) protein, Sarcolemmal Calcium ATPase (SL) pump, Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum CaATPase (SERCA) pump, sodium and calcium channels, and IP 3 R channel. The proposed mathematical model leads to a system of partial differential equations which has been solved numerically using Forward Time Centered Space (FTCS) approach. The numerical results have been used to study the relationships among different types of parameters such as buffer concentration, disassociation rate, calcium permeability, etc.