Mathematical synthesis of the cortical circulation for the whole mouse brain-part I. theory and image integration. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Linninger, Andreas; Hartung, Grant; Badr, Shoale; Morley, Ryan
• Is Part Of: Computers in biology and medicine. Volume 110(2019)
• Page Start: 265
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Cerebral circulation -- Vascular synthesis -- Microcirculation -- Biphasic blood flow -- Mouse brain; Medicine -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Biology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2019.05.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-4825

Abstract

Abstract: Microcirculation plays a significant role in cerebral metabolism and blood flow control, yet explaining and predicting functional mechanisms remains elusive because it is difficult to make physiologically accurate mathematical models of the vascular network. As a precursor to the human brain, this paper presents a computational framework for synthesizing anatomically accurate network models for the cortical blood supply in mouse. It addresses two critical deficiencies in cerebrovascular modeling. At the microscopic length scale of individual capillaries, we present a novel synthesis method for building anatomically consistent capillary networks with loops and anastomoses (=microcirculatory closure). This overcomes shortcomings in existing algorithms which are unable to create closed circulatory networks. A second critical innovation allows the incorporation of detailed anatomical features from image data into vascular growth. Specifically, computed tomography and two photon laser scanning microscopy data are input into the novel synthesis algorithm to build the cortical circulation for the entire mouse brain in silico . Computer predictions of blood flow and oxygen exchange executed on synthetic large-scale network models are expected to elucidate poorly understood functional mechanisms of the cerebral circulation. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Computational framework to synthesize circulatory networks for cortical blood supply. Algorithm combines advantages of image segmentation with vascular tree generation. Novel capillary closure that connects arteries to veins. Biphasic blood flow simulations for the entire mouse brain.