Theoretical Analysis of a Rectifying Gap Junction Model

X. L. Hu; Y. T. Zhang; J. L. Bao

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1634279

Methods of Information in Medicine, Table of Contents

Methods Inf Med 2000; 39(02): 150-152
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634279

Original Article

Schattauer GmbH

Theoretical Analysis of a Rectifying Gap Junction Model

X. L. Hu

¹Joint Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

,

Y. T. Zhang

¹Joint Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

,

J. L. Bao

²Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, China

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Abstract:

Based on the experimental observations, an electrical circuitry model for a rectifying gap junction was developed in previous work. In order to show the physiological function for each element in the model, a theoretical analysis is carried out in this report. The results indicate that the gap junctional capacitance C_j newly introduced into the model plays a major role in determining the duration increase, the peak attenuation, and the peak delay on the postmembrane action potential. Also, a comparison between the newly proposed model and the widely accepted kinetic model by Giaume is made. The results show that the electrical circuitry model can not only describe the characteristics of Giaume’s model but also allow the interpretation of some experimental phenomena that were not reflected in other gap junctional models.

Keywords:

Gap Junction Model

Full Text

References

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