The Effect of Variations in Ionic Conductance Values on the Dynamics of a Mathematical Model of Non-Spiking A-Type Horizontal Cells in the Rabbit Retina

Abstract

A previous study proposed a mathematical model of A-type horizontal cells in the rabbit retina. This model, which was constructed based on the Hodgkin-Huxley model, was described by a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The model contained five types of voltage-dependent ionic conductances: sodium, calcium, delayed rectifier potassium, transient outward potassium, and anomalous rectifier potassium conductances. The previous study indicated that when the delayed rectifier potassium conductance had a small value, depolarizing stimulation could change the dynamic state of the model from a hyperpolarized steady state to a depolarized steady state. However, how this change was affected by variations in the ionic conductance values was not clarified in detail in the previous study. To clarify this issue, in the present study, we performed numerical simulation analysis of the model and revealed the differences among the five types of ionic conductances.