Multi-Scale Modelling of Gastric Electrophysiology

Abstract

We have developed a multi-scale computational modelling framework for the study of gastric electrophysiology in health and disease. First, we have developed and validated two novel biophysically based models of Interstitial cell of Cajal and smooth muscle cell electrophysiology. Second, we have integrated the two cell models into a three dimensional human stomach geometry where the spatially varying characteristics of the tissue were incorporated for the study of propagation of the slow waves. Third, we simulated the electrical field generated by the stomach within a human torso with the aim of simulating the electrogastrogram (EGG). By integrating models from ion channels to cells to tissues, organs and through to the whole torso we bring together a vast quantity of experimental data and are able to package it succinctly. This allows us to manipulate and explore the system in ways that would be difficult, if not impossible, experimentally.