This is a replication of the following article:
Witthoft A, Karniadakis GE (2012) A bidirectional model for communication in the neurovascular unit. Journal of Theoretical Biology 311: 80-93.
where the authors present "an interactional model of bidirectional signalling in the neurovascular unit". This model combines previous models of the astrocyte signalling cascade [1,2] with a model of smooth muscle cell contractions in small arteries [3]. "This is the first computational model of astrocyte response to vascular function, making it the first model of a neurovascular unit to include a two-way communication path between the brain and vasculature."
[1] Bennett MR, Farnell L, Gibson W (2008) Origins of blood volume change due to glutamatergic synaptic activity at astrocytes abutting on arteriolar smooth muscle cells. Journal of Theoretical Biology 250: 172-185.
[2] Farr H, David T (2011) Models of neurovascular coupling via potassium and EET signalling. Journal of Theoretical Biology 286: 13-23.
[3] Gonzalez-Fernandez JM, Ermentrout B (1994) On the origin and dynamics of the vasomotion of small arteries. Mathematical Biosciences 119: 127-167.
This replication has been written and tested on Linux Mint 18.1 Cinnamon using the following packages:
- Python 3.5.3
- Numpy 1.12.1
- Scipy 0.19.0
- Matplotlib 2.0.2
Original data is in the data directory.
Four different simulation scenarios have been implemented using the ODE describing chemical transport and blood vessel mechanics in the NVU. To run a "control" simulation containing stimulus presentation from the synaptic space run
python main.py ../data/parameter.cfg
To run a simulation of the NVU under manual stretching of the blood vessel run
python main_trpv.py ../data/parameter.cfg
To run a simulation of the NVU under administration of the vasodilatory drug pinacidil run
python main_k.py ../data/parameter.cfg
To run a simulation of the NVU with fixed values for the astrocyte membrane potential run
python main_Vk.py ../data/parameter.cfg