https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-021-00307-6
Regular Article
Synchronization of a cluster of 
-cells based on a small-world network and its electronic experimental verification
1
Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica y Eléctrica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Pedro de Alba S/N, Cd. Universitaria, CP 66455, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, Mexico
2
Facultad de Ciencias de la Electrónica, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Av. San Claudio y 18 Sur, Edif. FCE2, 72570, Puebla, Mexico
3
Cátedras CONACYT-Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla-Facultad de Ciencias Físico-Matemáticas, Av. San Claudio y 14 Sur, 72570, Puebla, Mexico
4
Facultad de Ciencias de la Computación, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Av. San Claudio y 14 Sur, 72570, Puebla, Mexico
b
jesusm.pacheco@correo.buap.mx
Received:
11
January
2021
Accepted:
25
October
2021
Published online:
11
November
2021
When the bursting electrical activity (BEA) of the -cells inside Langerhans’ islet behave synchronously, the insulin secretes into the bloodstream to regulate the body’s glucose levels. Recent advances in pancreas imaging techniques showed that the communication path among -cells exhibits a small-world-like organization. Hence, we propose a mathematical model of a cluster composed of -cells with different BEAs represented by a complex network of nearly identical nodes. Each node describes the dynamics of an isolated -cell by the Pernarowski model. We analyze the effect of shortest path communication on the synchronization of -cells with different types of BEA via numerical simulations and electronic circuit experiments. Our results showed that even when the BEA evolves to distinct dynamics among the nodes, the synchronization is achieved. Of particular interest is when a percentage of -cells (nodes) are silent, i.e., no BEA is generated, which is a typical condition associated with diabetes. In this scenario, we observed that the proposed model predicts that the interaction between silent and active -cells induces reactivation of the inactive -cells’ electrical activity.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021
