Exact morphometric modeling of rat lungs for predicting mechanical impedance

• Published in: Respiration physiology 2001-08, Vol.127 (1), p.75-85
• Main Authors: Latourelle, Jeanne C., Gillis, Heather L., Lutchen, Kenneth R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air breathing; Airway anatomy; Airways; Algorithms; Anatomy; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Computational model; Computer Simulation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Lung - anatomy & histology; Lung - physiology; Mammals; Models, Biological; Rat; Rats; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Respiratory system: anatomy, metabolism, gas exchange, ventilatory mechanics, respiratory hemodynamics; Vertebrates: respiratory system
• ISSN: 0034-5687
• DOI: 10.1016/S0034-5687(01)00231-6

We have developed a computational approach that allows for one-to-one mapping of the airway anatomy when predicting the overall lung mechanical properties and their response to explicit constriction patterns imposed on the airway tree. Specifically, we have exploited the database from Raabe et al. (LF-53 Albuquerque, NM: Lovelace foundation for radical Education and Research), to build the first anatomically based computational model of the rat. The model was then used to predict the response to homogeneous and heterogeneous peripheral airway constriction. Unlike in humans, the inherent asymmetry in the airway tree of rats is predicted to be a dominant contributor to the frequency dependence of lung resistance and elastance even if the constriction is imposed homogeneously. A similar approach would, in principal, be applicable for humans, but the Raabe data is not sufficiently complete to permit this.