Sensitivity analysis of a smooth muscle cell electrophysiological model.

Cardiac smooth muscle cell mathematical models are increasingly be- ing 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.