MEMBRANE-POTENTIAL CHANGES IN ACTIVATED CELLS - CONNECTION WITH CYTOSOLIC CALCIUM OSCILLATOR

The activation of many cells by hormones, growth factors or neurotrans mitters can lead to a periodic variation of the cell membrane potentia l. A theoretical model that describes this behaviour on the basis of t he cytosolic calcium oscillator is developed. The main assumption of t his model stressed that the plasma membrane potential is mainly a K+ d iffusion potential. Tt is shown that the oscillations of the intracell ular calcium concentration can induce solely the membrane potential os cillations, without any further interaction mechanisms between fluxes through the ionic channels from the plasma membrane. A one-pool model was used to account for Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores. Th e model and the numerical calculations are based on the theory of nonl inear dynamical systems.