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Microsystems, Electronics and Acoustics
ISSN 2523-4447 · e‑ISSN 2523-4455 Open Access · CC BY-SA 4.0
Vol. 31 · Issue 1 · 2026 May 4, 2026 Electronic Systems and Signals

Modeling the Impact of Temperature on the Electrical Activity of Cardiac Cells: Identification of Key Ionic Currents

VI
Vitalii O. Ivashchuk Corresponding National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” Ukraine
NI
PhD, Assoc. Prof. Nataliia Heorhiivna Ivanushkina National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” Ukraine
Pages357181.1-357181.13 PublishedMay 4, 2026 LicenseOpen Access
PDF (Ukrainian)
VOL 31 · ISS 1 · 2026 View issue

Abstract

This study presents the development of a modified electrophysiological model of a human epicardial cardiomyocyte, achieved by taking into account the temperature effects on the kinetics and conductance of ion channels using parameter-specific Q10 coefficients. Based on the modified model, a temperature sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the key ionic mechanisms that regulate thermal adaptation of action potential duration (APD). The simulation was performed in the temperature range of 25–45 °C using a hybrid approach that combines local and global sensitivity analyses. Local analysis was performed by calculating elasticity coefficients to evaluate the impact of individual temperature parameters on APD. Global analysis was carried out using the Morris method of elementary effects to rank parameters by their influence and to identify non-linear interactions. The results demonstrate that the rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) plays a predominant role in the modulation of APD. It accounts for approximately 85% of the total APD shortening when the temperature rises to 42 °C, where APD decreases by 22.03% (from 270.91 ms to 211.24 ms). Under deep hypothermia (25 °C), a 52.47% prolongation of the action potential (AP) and a 169% increase in the repolarization phase duration were observed. Furthermore, the study reveals that at moderate hypothermia (30 °C), non-linear interactions between various ion channels become a decisive factor. A significant contribution of the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) and the late sodium current (INaL) was demonstrated at lower temperatures, confirming the temperature dependence of these interactions. These findings underscore the critical role of the human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) in the thermal adaptation of the ventricular myocardium and provide a computational framework for investigating the mechanisms of thermo-induced arrhythmias.

Keywords

#temperature effects #cardiac electrophysiology #sensitivity analysis #Morris method #temperature coefficients Q10 #action potential #ion channels

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Copyright (c) 2026 Віталій О. Іващук, канд. техн. наук, доц. Наталія Георгіївна Іванушкіна (Автор)

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