A graph theory analysis of renal glomerular microvascular networks.

A graph theory model and its invariants are used to compare previously published renal glomerular networks of six adult rats, one adult uremic rat, and one newborn rat. Invariants calculated include order, size, cycle rank, eccentricity, root distance, planarity, and vertex degree distribution. These invariants enabled the differentiation of six normal adult glomerular microvascular networks from that of the uremic glomerulus and from that of the normal newborn glomerulus. These invariants might then be used to differentiate between normal and pathological vascular networks. Also proposed are graph theory invariants that might be used to develop a quantitative model for angiogenesis.