Modeling the interrelations between the calcium oscillations and ER membrane potential oscillations

A refined electrochemical model accounting for intracellular calcium oscillations and their interrelations with oscillations of the potential difference across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or other intracellular calcium stores is established. The ATP dependent uptake of Ca2+ from the cytosol into the ER, the Ca2+ release from the ER through channels following a calcium-induced calcium release mechanism, and a potential-dependent Ca2+ leak flux out of the ER are included in the model and described by plausible rate laws. The binding of calcium to specific proteins such as calmodulin is taken into account. The quasi-electroneutrality condition allows us to express the transmembrane potential in terms of the concentrations of cytosolic calcium and free binding sites on proteins, which are the two independent variables of the model. We include monovalent ions in the model, because they make up a considerable portion in the balance of electroneutrality. As the permeability of the endoplasmic membrane for these ions is much higher than that for calcium ions, we assume the former to be in Nernst equilibrium. A stability analysis of the steady-state solutions (which are unique or multiple depending on parameter values) is carried out and the Hopf bifurcation leading from stable steady states to self-sustained oscillations is analysed with the help of appropriate mathematical techniques. The oscillations obtained by numerical integration exhibit the typical spike-like shape found in experiments and reasonable values of frequency and amplitude. The model describes the process of switching between stationary and pulsatile regimes as well as changes in oscillation frequency upon parameter changes. It turns out that calcium oscillations can arise without a permanent influx of calcium into the cell, when a calcium-buffering system such as calmodulin is included.