Acceleration of sensitivity analysis by distributed computation.

We have been developing a comprehensive mathematical model of cardiac myocyte based on molecular functions using a biological simulator, simBio. In this approach, expanding computing power is needed as the model becomes more intricate. Sensitivity analyses, which provide dependency of the model behavior on specific parameters, are also inevitable for developing and utilize models. Meanwhile, distributed computation by a cluster of personal computers (PC) became available using an open source package. A free software package named Jini orchestrates computers on a network, which we coupled with simBio. We connected 11 PCs and found that the time required for computing 504 models became 13 times shorter than that with a single PC. This method was proved efficient for sensitivity analysis, because calculations are independent and a linear decrease of computation time was obtained by adding PCs to the cluster. The visualization feature gives a researcher an instant feed-back, thus this system accelerates model driven study. The whole system with source code is available at www.sim-bio.org.

Role of Ca2+ transporters and channels in the cardiac cell volume regulation.

Na+/K+ pump is one of key mechanisms to maintain cell volume. When it is inhibited, cells are at risk of swelling. However, in guinea pig ventricular myocytes, the cell area as an index of cell volume was almost constant during 90 min Na+/K+ pump blockade with 40 microM ouabain despite the marked membrane depolarization. In this study, involvements of Ca2+ transporters and channels in the cardiac cell volume regulation were proposed by conducting the computer simulation in parallel with the experimental validation.

Modelling Cl- homeostasis and volume regulation of the cardiac cell.

We aim at introducing a Cl- homeostasis to the cardiac ventricular cell model (Kyoto model), which includes the sarcomere shortening and the mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation. First, we examined mechanisms underlying the cell volume regulation in a simple model consisting of Na+/K+ pump, Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter 1 (NKCC1), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, volume-regulated Cl- channel and background Na+, K+ and Cl- currents. The high intracellular Cl- concentration of approximately 30 mM was achieved by the balance between the secondary active transport via NKCC1 and passive currents. Simulating responses to Na+/K+ pump inhibition revealed the essential role of Na+/K+ pump in maintaining the cellular osmolarity through creating the negative membrane potential, which extrudes Cl- from a cell, confirming the previous model study in the skeletal muscle. In addition, this model well reproduced the experimental data such as the responses to hypotonic shock in the presence or absence of beta-adrenergic stimulation. Finally, the volume regulation via Cl- homeostasis was successfully incorporated to the Kyoto model. The steady state was well established in the comprehensive cell model in respect to both the intracellular ion concentrations and the shape of the action potential, which are all in the physiological range. The source code of the model, which can reproduce every result, is available from http://www.sim-bio.org/.

Intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics and sarcomere length in single ventricular myocytes.

The measurements of the sarcomere length in dissociated cardiac ventricular myocytes are discussed using mainly our own experimental data. The striation periodicity of these unloaded cells was found to be that which is to be expected of a myocyte free of the ultrastructural constraints imposed upon it by the normal syncytial matrix of the ventricular wall. The sarcomere length and [Ca(2+)] relationship was consistent as expected from the intact tissue, when it was measured soon after partial rupturing the cell membrane. Miniature fluctuations of individual sarcomere length were demonstrated during rest, which was augmented by the Ca(2+) overload. The [Ca(2+)] could be estimated from the measurements of sarcomere length during the positive staircase of contraction. The usefulness of the optical measurement of sarcomere pattern was indicated.

Involvement of Ca2+ buffering and Na+/Ca2+ exchange in the positive staircase of contraction in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.

The mean sarcomere length (SL) of guinea-pig cardiac myocytes was recorded simultaneously with the whole-cell current under voltage-clamp conditions. After blocking both sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and L-type Ca(2+) channels with ryanodine, cyclopiazonic acid and nicardipine, strong depolarizing pulses induced only the tonic component of SL shortening through the reverse mode of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange (NCX). A positive staircase of SL shortening was observed on applying a train pulses to +60~+100 mV at 2 Hz and trans-membrane Ca(2+) flux was calculated from the time integral of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current ( I(NCX)). Changes in cytosolic [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](i)) were determined indirectly using the experimental [Ca(2+)](i)/SL relationship. Cellular Ca(2+) buffering was characterized by a lumped single-component system with a maximum binding capacity of 200 micro M and a dissociation constant of 613 nM. Despite the decrease in driving force, the amplitude of the outwards I(NCX) at +60 mV gradually increased along with the positive staircase. The model simulation suggested that this increase of outwards I(NCX) is caused by a dramatic increase in Ca(2+)-mediated activation of NCX.