MODEL PREDICTIONS OF MYOELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF THE SMALL-BOWEL

A mathematical model for the periodic electrical activity of a functio nal unit of the small intestine is developed. Based on real morphologi cal and electrophysiological data, the model assumes that: the functio nal unit is an electromyogenic syncytium; the kinetics of L, T-type Ca 2+, mixed Ca2+-dependent K+, potential sensitive K+ and Cl- channels d etermines electrical activity of the functional unit; the basic neural circuit, represented by a single cholinergic neurone, provides an exc itatory input to the functional unit via receptor-linked L-type Ca2+ c hannels. Numerical simulation of the model has shown that it is capabl e of displaying the slow waves and that slight modifications of some o f the parameters result in different electrical responses. The effects of the variations of the main parameters have been analyzed for their ability to reproduce various electrical patterns. The results are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with results of experiment s conducted on the small intestine.