A reaction-diffusion model of CO2 influx into an oocyte.

ABSTRACT: We have developed and implemented a novel mathematical model for simulating transients in surface pH (pH(S)) and intracellular pH (pH(i)) caused by the influx of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) into a Xenopus oocyte. These transients are important tools for studying gas channels. We assume that the oocyte is a sphere surrounded by a thin layer of unstirred fluid, the extracellular unconvected fluid (EUF), which is in turn surrounded by the well-stirred bulk extracellular fluid (BECF) that represents an infinite reservoir for all solutes. Here, we assume that the oocyte plasma membrane is permeable only to CO(2). In both the EUF and intracellular space, solute concentrations can change because of diffusion and reactions. The reactions are the slow equilibration of the CO(2) hydration-dehydration rea

SUBMITTER: Somersalo E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3471386 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature