Mathematical modelling of cell cycle and chronobiology: preliminary results

A mathematical model taking into account the observed diurnal variations in cell kinetics is presented. The principle of the method is to divide each phase of the cell cycle in a definite number of compartments and to assume that the fluxes into and out of the compartments corresponding to the G1 phase are the only varying parameters through the day. Theoretical evolutions of percentages of cells in M and S phase, theoretical curves for percentage labelled mitosis experiment are derived. Preliminary results of the applications of the model to interpretation of published experimental data obtained in hamster cheek pouch epithelium are shown.