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Spatial heterogeneity enhances and modulates excitability in a mathematical model of the myometrium

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Sheldon, Rachel E., Baghdadi, Marc, McCloskey, Conor, Blanks, Andrew M., Shmygol, Anatoly and Berg, Hugo van den (2013) Spatial heterogeneity enhances and modulates excitability in a mathematical model of the myometrium. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Volume 10 (Number 86). p. 20130458. doi:10.1098/rsif.2013.0458

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/​rsif.2013.0458

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Abstract

The muscular layer of the uterus (myometrium) undergoes profound changes in global excitability prior to parturition. Here, a mathematical model of the myocyte network is developed to investigate the hypothesis that spatial heterogeneity is essential to the transition from local to global excitation which the myometrium undergoes just prior to birth. Each myometrial smooth muscle cell is represented by an element with FitzHugh–Nagumo dynamics. The cells are coupled through resistors that represent gap junctions. Spatial heterogeneity is introduced by means of stochastic variation in coupling strengths, with parameters derived from physiological data. Numerical simulations indicate that even modest increases in the heterogeneity of the system can amplify the ability of locally applied stimuli to elicit global excitation. Moreover, in networks driven by a pacemaker cell, global oscillations of excitation are impeded in fully connected and strongly coupled networks. The ability of a locally stimulated cell or pacemaker cell to excite the network is shown to be strongly dependent on the local spatial correlation structure of the couplings. In summary, spatial heterogeneity is a key factor in enhancing and modulating global excitability.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Molecular Organisation and Assembly in Cells (MOAC)
Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences > Translational & Experimental Medicine > Reproductive Health ( - until July 2016)
Faculty of Science > Centre for Systems Biology
Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Uterus, Myometrium, Parturition, Childbirth, Labor (Obstetrics), Cytology -- Research
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of The Royal Society Interface
Publisher: The Royal Society Publishing
ISSN: 1742-5689
Official Date: 2013
Dates:
DateEvent
2013Published
Volume: Volume 10
Number: Number 86
Page Range: p. 20130458
DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2013.0458
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), University of Warwick. Molecular Organisation and Assembly in Cells
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