Modeling of stimulation–secretion coupling in a chromaffin cell

We constructed a chromaffin cell model for analysis of stimulation–secretion coupling in computer simulation studies. The model includes mechanisms involved in the excitatory synapse, voltage-dependent Na+, K+ and Ca2+ channels, Ca2+-activated K+ channels (SK type), buffered Ca2+ diffusion, Ca2+ extrusion, fluorescent Ca2+ indicators and Ca2+-triggered exocytosis. Calculations of the modeled mechanisms were carried out using the NEURON simulation environment (Hines and Carnevale, Neural Computation 9:1179–1209, 1997). A set of parameter values was determined so as to fit basic experimental results reported in the literature. The model was also applied to simulate our experimental results obtained from chromaffin cells in the perfused rat adrenal medulla. Observed profiles of Ca2+responses induced by electrically stimulating the splanchnic nerve with various frequencies (1–50 Hz) were adequately simulated with minor readjustments of parameter values for Ca2+influx and extrusion. Secretory responses measured at the same time as the Ca2+responses were also simulated with consideration of a time constant to detect catecholamines in the experiment. Similarly, model simulations reproduced both Ca2+responses and secretory responses evoked by elevations of the extracellular K+ concentration for different periods. The results suggest that the presented model provides a useful tool for analyzing and predicting quantitative relations in various events occurring in stimulation–secretion coupling in chromaffin cells.