| Abstract: | Parametric resonance and amplification of periodic perturbations in the membrane transport of ions through channels with inactivation was studied in computational experiments. It has been shown that a periodic change in the membrane capacitance or in the applied electric current with a frequency approximately 2 omega 0 (omega 0--the own angular frequency of the membrane) may excite stable self-oscillations in the membrane with a frequency of approximately omega 0. For this to occur, the degree of the capacitance modulation m or the amplitude of the applied current i0 must exceed some critical values mcr and i0cr. Excitation of self-oscillations by alternating electric current of the frequency approximately 2 omega 0 has the characteristics of parametric resonance. This can be explained by the fact that the equivalent membrane inductance depends on ionic current and displays periodic changes with a frequency approximately 2 omega 0, as also does the current. Small-amplitude periodic changes in the capacitance (m less than mcr) with frequencies approximately 2 omega 0 may result in significant amplification of periodic perturbations with frequencies approximately omega 0. |
