Abstract
We study a recently proposed somatotroph model that exhibits plateau bursting, a form of electrical activity that is typical for this cell type. We focus on the influence of the large conductance (BK-type) Ca2+ -activated K+ current on the oscillations and duration of the active phase. The model involves two different time scales, but
a standard bifurcation analysis of the fast-time limit does not completely explain the behavior of the model, which is subtly different from classical models for plateau bursting. In particular, the nullclines and velocities of the fast variables play an important role in shaping the bursting oscillations. We determine numerically how the fraction of open BK channels controls the amplitude of the fast oscillations during the active phase. Furthermore, we show how manifolds of the fast subsystem are involved in the termination of the active phase.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Unpublished - Apr 2009 |
Bibliographical note
Sponsorship: JN was supported by grant EP/E032249/1 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and HMO by an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship grant. HMO is grateful for the support andhospitality of Cornell University at which part of this work was done.
Keywords
- bursting
- fast-slow analysis
- stable manifolds
- nullclines