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Updated: May 23, 2026

Applications of Spatio-temporal Mapping and Particle Analysis Techniques to Quantify Intracellular Ca2+ Signaling In Situ
Published on: January 7, 2019
Modelling the effects of calcium waves and oscillations on saliva secretion
Laurence Palk1, James Sneyd, Kate Patterson
1Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. l.palk@math.auckland.ac.nz
Abstract:
An understanding of Ca(2+) signalling in saliva-secreting acinar cells is important, as Ca(2+) is the second messenger linking stimulation of cells to production of saliva. Ca(2+) signals affect secretion via the ion channels located both apically and basolaterally in the cell. By approximating Ca(2+) waves with periodic functions on the apical and basolateral membranes, we isolate individual wave properties and investigate them for their effect on fluid secretion in a mathematical model of the acinar cell. Mean Ca(2+) concentration is found to be the most significant property in signalling secretion. Wave speed was found to encode a range of secretion rates. Ca(2+) oscillation frequency and amplitude had little effect on fluid secretion.
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