Effects Of I_K(ACh) And Desensitization On Human Atrial Action Potential And Computational Simulation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most familiar arrhythmia. According to statistics, the incidence of AF is accounting for 2% in the adults and for greater in the older people. There are more than 5% in above 65 years old people. In the past 50 years, researchers have made a great progress in studying mechanism of AF and in developing the therapy of AF. However, there are many key questions need to be illuminated. IK(Ach) is one of the main K+ currents to maintain the Rest Potential of human atrial muscle cells. Desensitization of IK(Ach) can make atrial muscle cells be more vulnerable and may induce them generate spontaneous rhythm (especially in old people) which means AF. So, it is significant to study IK(Ach) and its desensitization in order to illuminate the beginning mechanism of AF.Computer modeling and simulation is a important research method for heart cell electrophysiological property investigation. Computer simulation of human atrial muscle cells can make the research in heart physiological and pathological problems more effectively. However, owing to the shortage of experimental data, all the models which have been built are not containing IK(Ach). Building a human atrial muscle cells model will provide the researchers a usefull tool to illuminate the beginning and conducted mechanism.This article built a human atrial muscle cells model based on experimental data which containing IK(Ach).There are many kinds of computer languages can be used to describe cell electrophysiology models. This article discussed characteristics of several common computer language and introduced the Cell Markup Language which is beening developed by Auckland Bioengineering Institute at the University of Auckland. This language is based on XML. This paper described the human atrial muscle cell electrophysiological model using Cell Markup Language, and successfully simulated it on computer. The simulation results are sufficiently identical with the experimental data. The model can describe the IK(Ach) and its desensitization very well, as well as other kinds of ion currents in human atrial muscle cells.Besides, it can also indicate relationships of ion currents and their effects on the Action Potential.