Mathematical Model of Electrotonic Interaction Between Mechanically Active Cardiomyocyte and Fibroblasts

Cardiac fibroblasts are widely represented in mammalian cardiac tissue. These cells are connected with cardiomyocytes by gap junctions and they have own changeable membrane potential, so that fibroblasts can influence cardiomyocyte electrical activity. This effect may be analyzed in mathematical models. Existing mathematical models of fibroblast-cardiomyocyte interaction allow anyone to study only electrical responses of the cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts to their electrical interaction. In our work we have considered the fibroblast influence on the cardiomyocytes mechanics. In numerical experiments we reveal significant changes in the cardiomyocyte action potential duration and force depending on the number of fibroblast connected with the cardiomyocyte.