MODELING OF THE ENTERIC NERVOUS NETWORK .3. ADRENERGIC-NEURON

A mathematical model is developed to investigate the coupled electroch emical processes of nerve-pulse transmission via adrenergic synapse. B ased on pharmacological and morphophysiological data, the model descri bes the dynamics of the propagation of the electric signal along the u nmyelinated geometrically non-uniform axon of the neuron and the chemi cal mechanisms of the transformation of the electrical signal in the s ynaptic zone into the post-synaptic output. The combined nonlinear sys tem of partial and ordinary differential equations has been obtained a nd solved numerically. The results of computer simulation of the funct ion of the idealized adrenergic neuron quantitatively and qualitativel y describe the dynamics of Ca2+ ion influx into the terminal, noradren aline release from the free 'releasable' store, its diffusion into the synaptic cleft, binding with the adrenoceptors on the pre- and post-s ynaptic structures with the generation of the inhibitory post-synaptic potential, and utilization of noradrenaline by neuronal and non-neuro nal capture mechanisms.