A mathematical model of the contraction rate of myocardial cells

Abstract

A mathematical model, based on molecular mechanisms that are found in microorganisms and are believed to function in higher organisms, was formulated to describe the contraction rate of rat cardiac cells in response to prolonged perfusion. The describing equation's of the system are three simultaneous nonlinear time-variant differential equations. The parameters represented at different times in culture were estimated from steady state considerations, and the model was then used to predict the dynamic responses observed experimentally. Solutions were obtained by digital computer. The agreement between theoretical and experimental results is good. This model is in the early stages of development and many assumptions remain to be tested. But is has already contributed to the design of experiments for testing those assumptions.