Sensitivity Analysis of a Smooth Muscle Cell Electrophysiological Model

Cardiac smooth muscle cell mathematical models are increasingly being used in clinical decision making and drug testing. The cell models also have the potential to assist interpretation and extending of our multi-scale experimental findings. Components of the models interact with each other to regulate model behavior in a non-linear manner. To permit meaningful deployment of the models, it is therefore a necessity to understand the regulatory significance of model components’ parameters on the model’s behavior. In this study, the regulation of mean intra-cellular calcium and mean membrane potential (model behavior) by underlying model parameters (regulators) in a smooth muscle cell mathematical model was quantified using two sensitivity analysis methods. It was found that extracellular electrolytes and gating kinetics are prime model behavior regulators. A representative case relevant to widespread hypertension focusing on the L-type channel’s parameters is presented. This sensitivity analysis will guide our future data driven modelling efforts.