Presentation Information
[POS-56]Three-Dimensional Analysis of Sinusoidal Network Patterns and Morphological Changes in Fatty Liver
*Saho Koyama1, Hiroto Shoji1 (1. Kwansei Gakuin Univ (Japan))
Keywords:
Liver,Vascular network,Fractal analysis,Morphology
The liver, composed of many hepatic lobules, performs various essential functions for physiological processes. Within the hepatic lobule, the hepatic sinusoids, which are blood vessels, are three-dimensionally arranged to promote efficient metabolism in hepatocytes. The liver exhibits a distinctive three-dimensional morphology of sinusoidal networks, which has been a subject of study in biology and mathematical sciences. Various mathematical concepts, such as fractal theory, graph network theory, and mathematical optimization, have been applied to analyze its structural and functional properties.
In our previous study, we investigated the microscopic structure of the liver, including sinusoidal networks, using the concept of fractals. In our analysis of the two-dimensional structures of four species (sardines, chickens, rats, and pigs), we statistically confirmed significant differences in fractal dimensions. Through theoretical considerations, we proposed that these differences arise from variations in the ratio of cells to blood vessels and differences in the spatial organization of these components. In addition, we confirmed a significant difference in fractal dimension between control rats and rats with fatty liver in the two-dimensional structures.
In this study, we first focused on the three-dimensional microscopic structure of the liver. Using a confocal microscope, we captured images of the liver’s microstructure and quantitatively analyzed its three-dimensional architecture. We extracted and analyzed the fractal dimensions and network structures from the obtained images. The measured parameters included the fractal dimension of blood vessels, their volume, length, and the number of branching points. After analyzing the correlations among the parameters, we found that the parameter with the highest correlation to fractal dimension was the volume of vessels. In order to recapitulate the morphology of blood vessels, we assumed that the distribution of blood vessel diameters follows a power law, and we aimed to reproduce the blood vessel pattern using Murray's law.
Second, using the results obtained from the first study, we investigated three-dimensional morphological changes associated with disease. We confirmed a significant difference in the fractal dimensions between control and fatty liver rats in three-dimensional structures. Furthermore, we also measured the number of endpoints and found significant differences in the ratio of length to volume and the ratio of the number of endpoints to the number of branching points between control and disease. We discuss the structural changes between control rats and diseased rats. This study will contribute to understanding the mechanisms of liver morphogenesis and vascular patterns.
In our previous study, we investigated the microscopic structure of the liver, including sinusoidal networks, using the concept of fractals. In our analysis of the two-dimensional structures of four species (sardines, chickens, rats, and pigs), we statistically confirmed significant differences in fractal dimensions. Through theoretical considerations, we proposed that these differences arise from variations in the ratio of cells to blood vessels and differences in the spatial organization of these components. In addition, we confirmed a significant difference in fractal dimension between control rats and rats with fatty liver in the two-dimensional structures.
In this study, we first focused on the three-dimensional microscopic structure of the liver. Using a confocal microscope, we captured images of the liver’s microstructure and quantitatively analyzed its three-dimensional architecture. We extracted and analyzed the fractal dimensions and network structures from the obtained images. The measured parameters included the fractal dimension of blood vessels, their volume, length, and the number of branching points. After analyzing the correlations among the parameters, we found that the parameter with the highest correlation to fractal dimension was the volume of vessels. In order to recapitulate the morphology of blood vessels, we assumed that the distribution of blood vessel diameters follows a power law, and we aimed to reproduce the blood vessel pattern using Murray's law.
Second, using the results obtained from the first study, we investigated three-dimensional morphological changes associated with disease. We confirmed a significant difference in the fractal dimensions between control and fatty liver rats in three-dimensional structures. Furthermore, we also measured the number of endpoints and found significant differences in the ratio of length to volume and the ratio of the number of endpoints to the number of branching points between control and disease. We discuss the structural changes between control rats and diseased rats. This study will contribute to understanding the mechanisms of liver morphogenesis and vascular patterns.