Cable properties of smooth muscle: a system model approach

A system model approach is introduced to investigate the passive cable properties of the smooth muscle. The model is superior to the conventional signal model, which relies on the subjective measure of the space constant and time constant from a response of some stimulated smooth muscle cells. In the present approach, an RC network is used to model the passive cable properties of the smooth muscle cells, and the network parameters (the membrane and junction resistances and capacitances) are estimated iteratively from the experimentally measured input impedance, using an optimization strategy. Errors of parameter estimation this approach are negligible, proving that the system model approach is accurate and robust. Drug actions such as the effects of heptanol (which is thought to uncouple the gap junctions) on smooth muscle are currently being studied.<>