engleski

Neurogenesis: from experimental data to system dynamics model

Abstract Formation of the cerebral cortex is one of the most complex processes of the mammal development. It has been postulated that time of origin of particular cortical neurons along with their position within proliferative population determine majority of their properties within mature brain. Also, during early postnatal life, substantial reduction of neuron number occurs as the consequence of programmed cell death that further modifies structure and function of maturing brain. In this paper we present the first attempt, at least according to the thorough search through available literature, to integrate available experimental data on dynamics of cerebral cortex neuron production, cortical stratification, and postnatal programmed cell death within cerebral cortex into single system dynamics simulation model. Stella Research modeling software was employed to build up a model and perform simulation experiments. Results of the simulation experiments confirmed that parameters of cell cycle kinetics of the pseudostratified ventricular epithelia (PVE), particulary ‘ q factor’ (proportion of asymmetric mitoses within proliferative population during neurogenetic interval that give birth to young postmitotic neurons) fundamentally influence final amount of cerebral cortex neurons. Model enables effortless expansion by incorporation of other proliferative populations that colonize cerebral cortex or rise from PVE. Hypothesis testing in the course of experiments on animal models is additional possible use of this model.

: System dynamics; modeling; computer simulation; neurogenesis; cerebral cortex development.

nije evidentirano