One Dimensional Finite Element Model to Study the Effect of Diffusion of Free Ca2+ in Hepatocytes☆

Abstract The main functional cell of the liver is hepatocyte. The frequently working of liver depends on the particular level of cytosolic Ca 2+ in hepatocyte. Cytosolic calcium is a second messenger which responsible for reproduction. Calcium controls many biological processes like movement of cell, secretion, muscular contraction, cell differentiation and buffering processes etc. The calcium diffusion in hepatocyte can be described by the system of reaction-diffusion equations. The main objective of this paper is to study the effect of diffusion of cytosolic calcium concentration in hepatocyte in presence of buffers. A one Dimensional mathematical model is developed in the form of diffusion equation. This model has studied the effect of the important parameters like immobile buffer, diffusion coefficient and influx over [Ca 2+ ] profile on hepatocyte. It is found that diffusion has significant effect in the presence of low affinity buffer compared to high affinity buffer.