Abstract
A mathematical model is proposed to describe the intracellularCa 2+ (Ca i) transient and electrical activity of vascular endothelial cells (VEC) elicited by fluid shear stress (τ). The intracellularCa 2+ store of the model VEC is comprised of aCa i-sensitive (sc) and an inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate (IP 3)-sensitive compartment (dc). The dc [Ca 2+] is refilled by the sc whose [Ca 2+] is the same as extracellular [Ca 2+].IP 3 produced by the τ-deformed mechanoreceptors discharges the dcCa 2+ into the cytosol. The increase of cytosolic[Ca 2+] inducesCa 2+ release (CICR) from the sc. The raisedCa i activates aCa i-activatedK + current (I K, Ca) and inhibitsIP 3 production. The cell membrane potential is determined byI K, Ca, voltage-dependentNa + andK + currents. Steady τ>0.1 dyne/cm2 elicits aCa i varies sigmoidally withLog 10(τ) with a maximal peakCa i of 150 nM at τ=4 dynes/cm2. Step increases of τ fail to elicit aCa 2+ response in cells previously stimulated by a lower shear. TheCa 2+ response gradually decreases with repetitive τ stimuli. Pulsatile shear elicits two to three times higherCa i and hyperpolarizes the cell more than steady shear of the same magnitude. The simulatedCa 2+ responses to τ are quantitatively and qualitatively similar to those observed in cultured VEC. The model provides a possible explanation of why the vasodilating stimulus is greater for pulsatile flow than for nonpulsatile flow.
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Wong, A.Y.K., Klassen, G.A. A model of electrical activity and cytosolic calcium dynamics in vascular endothelial cells in response to fluid shear stress. Ann Biomed Eng 23, 822–832 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02584481
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02584481