Influence of gap junction subtypes on passive and active electrical properties of syncytial tissues

Abstract

Gap junctions are intercellular pores which provide a means of communication in syncytial tissues. They play a vital role in the normal physiological functioning and development of such tissues. A variety of such pores have been reported with differences in their biophysical properties. The current study aims at computationally modeling these gap junctional channels and investigating their influence in determining the behavior of electrically coupled networks of cells. Towards this end, a comparison of passive and active properties has been undertaken by employing different gap junction subtypes.