title: Quasi-periodic behaviour in a model for the lithium-induced, electrical oscillations of frog skin.
abstract: The fact that oscillations can be induced in studies of the maintenance of the electrical potential of frog skin by addition of lithium allowed evaluation of several parameters fundamental to the functioning of the system in vivo (e.g. relative volumes of internal compartments, characteristic times of ionic exchanges between compartments). A realistic model was thus proposed under the form of a set of ordinary differential equations. In the past, numerical simulations using such a model reproduced the periodic experimental oscillations and was able to provide an explanation for the global synchronised oscillations of the whole skin. In that paper, new numerical simulations reproduce the non-periodic oscillations which were observed two decades ago, but not reproduced by the model. Moreover, the dynamical process under which all the local oscillators are synchronised is explained in terms of a tangent bifurcation.
authors.affiliation: CORIA, université de Rouen, av. de l'Université, BP 12, 76801 Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Letellier
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lassalles
authors.forename: Vic
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ripoll
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thellier
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology; D004058:Diffusion; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011898:Ranidae / Q000502:physiology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium; D013806:Theophylline; D000242:Cyclic AMP