[Forum SIS] Seminario CHARAWI (RGS & Matematica Applicata)

[Giacomo Aletti]

Con preghiera di diffusione tra tutti i possibili interessati,
scusandomi per invii multipli.
Cordialmente,
Giacomo Aletti

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Nell'ambito dei Reading Group Seminars e del Seminario di Matematica
Applicata, il giorno lunedì 1 Dicembre 2014, alle ore 14.30, nell'Aula
C del Dipartimento di Matematica dell'Universita' degli Studi di
Milano, Via C. Saldini, 50, Milano,

"Ionic mechanism underlying cardiac pacemaking: Insights from a
mathematical model"
Lara CHARAWI
Dipartimento Matematica, Università di PAVIA


Abstract:
The ionic mechanisms at the basis of the spontaneous pacemaker
activity of sinoatrial node (SAN) cells is a matter of intense debate
[1], in particular the role of the hyperpolarization-activated
current, known as the "funny" current If [2]. Computational models of
the electrical activity of SAN cells have been proposed to gain a
deeper understanding of the phenomenon, however they fail in
reproducing experimental effects of If modifications. We present a
novel mathematical model of rabbit SAN action potential [3], developed
by updating the description of membrane currents and intracellular
mechanisms on the basis of experimental acquisitions, in an attempt to
reproduce pacemaker activity and its physiological and pharmacological
modulation. Our model describes satisfactorily experimental data on
pacemaking regulation due to neural modulation, If block and
inhibition of the intracellular calcium handling. Simulation results
suggest that a detailed description of the intracellular calcium
fluxes is fully compatible with the observation that If is a major
component of pacemaking and rate modulation.

Keywords Cardiac modelling, cardiac pacemaking, sinoatrial node, funny
current, autonomic rate modulation.

References
[1] Lakatta, E. G., and DiFrancesco, D. (2009). What keeps us ticking:
a funny current, a calcium clock, or both?. J. mol. cell. cardiol.,
47(2), 157-170.
[2] Brown, H. F., DiFrancesco, D., and Noble, S. J. (1979). How does
adrenaline accelerate the heart? Nature, 280, 235-236.
[3] Severi, S., Fantini, M., Charawi, L. A., and DiFrancesco, D.
(2012). An updated computational model of rabbit sinoatrial action
potential to investigate the mechanisms of heart rate modulation. J.
physiol., 590(18), 4483-4499.

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Reading Group Seminars: The Reading Group Seminars (RGS) are organized
within an open community of researchers interested in applying up to
date mathematical modeling and data analysis approaches to the study
of biological systems. The RGS take place at the Math. Department in
Milan (via Saldini). Initiatives and updates are published on the
website: http://rgs.mat.unimi.it/.

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Giacomo Aletti, Associate Professor

ADAMSS Centre (ex MIRIAM)
Advanced  Applied Mathematical  and Statistical Sciences

Department of Mathematics (www.matematica.unimi.it)
Via Saldini, 50
20133 Milano, Italy
Tel: +39-02-503.16158
Fax:+39-02-503.16090
Cell: +39-340-9739142