Simulation of angiogenesis in three dimensions: Application to cerebral cortex

Area of Science:

• * Developmental biology
• * Physiology
• * Computational modeling

Background:

• * The brain's microvasculature forms a complex 3D network from an initial surface mesh.
• * Vascular network geometry emerges from vessel responses like angiogenesis, remodeling, and pruning.
• * Previous models successfully simulated 2D vascular patterns in other tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To present a theoretical model for the development of the 3D cerebral microvascular network.
• * To incorporate known and hypothesized vascular response mechanisms into the model.
• * To simulate the formation of brain vascular networks based on experimental data.

Main Methods:

• * Development of a theoretical model based on vascular response mechanisms.
• * Integration of experimental data on mouse cerebral cortex structure and hemodynamics.
• * Simulation of microvascular network formation and growth.

Main Results:

• * The model identifies oxygen level sensing and conducted responses as key components.
• * These mechanisms propagate information about tissue metabolic needs.
• * The model can generate physiologically realistic microvascular network structures.

Conclusions:

• * The theoretical model provides insights into brain vascular development.
• * It elucidates the role of oxygen sensing and conducted responses in network formation.
• * The model can predict the impact of impaired vascular response mechanisms.