Low-frequency Oscillations of Functional Indicators of the Body

Abstract

A number of our studies have shown that low-frequency (LF) oscillations in the functional parameters of the oxygen transport system are stable and synchronized with one another. The literature presents a large number of examples of LF oscillations in various functional parameters that are directly or indirectly related to energy metabolism. In parallel, artificially induced damped and constant spontaneous oscillations related to energy produced by the mitochondria over a range of LF frequencies have been studied for more than 40 years. A parameter study is therefore needed to find the connection between the oscillation amplitudes and the physical characteristics both of the oxygen transport system and mitochondria that operate on common LF range (0.003–0.03 Hz). We believe the nature of all these oscillation amplitudes to be affected by the periodic dynamics of energy dissipation in mitochondria that form an interconnected network. The process of creating these oscillations occurs in two phases. In the 1st phase, the amount of Са2+ entering the mitochondria exceeds the amount of Са2+ released by mitochondria thereby promoting an increase in oxidative phosphorylation efficiency. In the 2nd phase, Са2+ efflux from mitochondria prevails over Са2+ influx and is accompanied by inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. The oscillations remain stable and spontaneous and arise from an “autocatalytic” interaction based on feedback mechanisms. The inertia of the processes of a full cycle (1st and 2nd phases) that lasts 1–3 minutes may be due to the capacity of the phosphate buffer of mitochondria. The structural basis for synchronizing oscillations at the tissue level may be mitochondrial networks of excitable tissues. Synchronization at the organism level between mitochondrial oscillations and fluctuations in parameters associated with energy metabolism can be achieved through a system of tunnel nanotubes.