Membrane potential changes in activated cells: connection with cytosolic calcium oscillator

The activation of many cells by hormones, growth factors or neurotransmitters can lead to a periodic variation of the cell membrane potential. A theoretical model that describes this behaviour on the basis of the cytosolic calcium oscillator is developed. The main assumption of this model stressed that the plasma membrane potential is mainly a K+ diffusion potential. It is shown that the oscillations of the intracellular calcium concentration can induce solely the membrane potential oscillations, 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. The model and the numerical calculations are based on the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems.