Mathematical modeling of endothelium-induced smooth muscle cell relaxation

By means of computer modeling we investigate the characteristics of the local mechanisms of regulation of contractile activity of smooth muscle cells. Influence of the endothelium is modeled as the increase of nitric oxide (NO) concentration and subsequent production of cyclic quanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The latter affects the balance of intracellular calcium concentration and, ultimately, the contractile activity of the cell. Our computations show, that cGMP-induced inhibition of Ca2 +-ATPase, localized (i) in the cell membrane or (ii) in the membrane of sarcoplasmic reticulum has a different effect on the characteristics of calcium oscillations and, therefore, potentially has a different relaxing effect.