Development of an Image-Based Network Model of Retinal Vasculature

Abstract

The paper presents an image-based network model of retinal vasculature taking account of the 3D vascular distribution of the retina. Mouse retinas were prepared using flat-mount technique and vascular images were obtained using confocal microscopy. The vascular morphometric information obtained from confocal images was used for the model development. The network model developed directly represents the vascular geometry of all the large vessels of the arteriolar and venular trees and models the capillaries using uniformly distributed meshes. The vasculatures in different layers of the retina, namely the superficial, intermediate, and deep layer, were modeled separately in the network and were linked through connecting vessels. The branching data of the vasculatures was recorded using the method of connectivity matrix of network (the graph theory). Such an approach is able to take into account the detailed vasculature of individual retinas concerned. Using the network model developed, a circulation analysis based on Poiseuille's equation was carried out. The investigations produced predictions of spatial distribution of the pressure, flow, and wall shear stress in the entire retinal vasculature. The method developed can be used as a tool for continuous monitoring of the retinal circulation for clinical assessments as well as experimental studies.

Blood flow mechanics and oxygen transport and delivery in the retinal microcirculation: multiscale mathematical modeling and numerical simulation

“…Blood pressure, hematocrit and viscosity in the VTN We perform a quantitative analysis of blood pressure, hematocrit and viscosity distribution along the VTN by studying their statistics. Table 2 shows the results binned in 5 diameter ranges (see Ganesan et al 2010a for an analogous analysis in the rat). Our model predicts a pressure drop of approximately 12 mmHg across the arterioles and of 5 mmHg across the veins.…”

Effect of Diffuse Luminance Flicker Light Stimulation on Total Retinal Blood Flow Assessed With Dual-Beam Bidirectional Doppler OCT

“…These results indicate that regulation of blood flow during neural stimulation is more complex than reflected in our modeling. As such, more complex models [57][58][59][60][61] for simulating the vascular system can be used in future to allow more precise predictions of retinal blood flow under different stimuli.…”

A One-Dimensional Mathematical Model for Studying the Pulsatile Flow in Microvascular Networks

“…In particular, the model can be applied to microvascular networks with heterogeneous morphological and topological structures, such as coronary [64][65][66], pulmonary [67], and retinal [68] microcirculation. Nevertheless, the simulation of complete networks depends strongly on the availability of experimental data, particularly in handling the boundary conditions.…”