Intercellular spiral waves of calcium in a two dimensional network of cells

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through simulations that calcium spiral waves can spontaneously form in a 2D cell network due to natural de-synchronization, without artificial heterogeneities, and explores their interactions.

Contribution

It reveals a novel mechanism for spontaneous intercellular calcium spiral wave formation driven by de-synchronization in a homogeneous network.

Findings

Spiral waves originate from de-synchronization near the stimulated region.

No artificial heterogeneities are needed for spiral wave formation.

Collision outcomes of spiral waves are characterized.

Abstract

It is shown, by means of numerical simulations, that intercellular spiral waves of calcium can be initiated in a network of coupled cells as a result of a de-synchronization between Ca2+ oscillations in two domains. No artificial heterogeneities need to be imposed to the system for spontaneous formation of spiral waves. The de-synchronization occurs near the interface of the stimulated region (which acts as a pacemaker) and propagates over the entire network. We also find the outcome of the collision of two spiral waves.