G Landini1, G Misson. 1. Oral Pathology Unit, Dental School, University of Birmingham, England.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The authors modeled the normally avascular mammalian cornea response to injury by neovascularization. The nature of this process remains obscure, although diffusion mechanisms are thought to be involved. METHODS: Corneal neovascularization was simulated using fractal stochastic computer models for nonequilibrium diffusion (inverted diffusion limited aggregation) and a stochastic ballistic aggregation. RESULTS: The inverted diffusion limited aggregation model was found to generate patterns strikingly similar to those observed in pathologic neovascularization of the cornea in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: This result supports the role of random diffusion mechanisms modified by environmental factors, such as the release of angiogenic factors in corneal angiogenesis.
PURPOSE: The authors modeled the normally avascular mammalian cornea response to injury by neovascularization. The nature of this process remains obscure, although diffusion mechanisms are thought to be involved. METHODS: Corneal neovascularization was simulated using fractal stochastic computer models for nonequilibrium diffusion (inverted diffusion limited aggregation) and a stochastic ballistic aggregation. RESULTS: The inverted diffusion limited aggregation model was found to generate patterns strikingly similar to those observed in pathologic neovascularization of the cornea in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: This result supports the role of random diffusion mechanisms modified by environmental factors, such as the release of angiogenic factors in corneal angiogenesis.
Authors: Michael F Chiang; Rony Gelman; Steven L Williams; Joo-Yeon Lee; Daniel S Casper; M Elena Martinez-Perez; John T Flynn Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2008-04-11 Impact factor: 4.799