Fire-diffuse-fire model of dynamics of intracellular calcium waves.

Dawson, S P; Keizer, J; Pearson, J E · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 1999

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

When Ca2+ is released from internal stores in living cells, the resulting wave of increased concentration can travel without deformation (continuous propagation) or with burst-like behavior (saltatory propagation). We analyze the "fire-diffuse-fire" model in order to illuminate the differences between these two modes of propagation. We show that the Ca2+ release wave in immature Xenopus oocytes and cardiac myocytes is saltatory, whereas the fertilization wave in the mature oocyte is continuous.

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