A simple procedure for simulating samples of tissue using Voronoi diagrams.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a simple and quick procedure for modeling samples of tissue with Voronoi diagrams.


METHODS
Instead of calculating the centers of the so-called Dirichlet domains (i.e., the polygonal areas occupied by individual cells), the centroid of such areas is used to generate Voronoi diagrams. The coordinates of the centroids are calculated by simply averaging the coordinates of the points of the cell contours; that is much simpler and faster than any geometric procedure for locating the Dirichlet centers. Using the centroids as centers, circles are allowed to grow until no space on the surface is available. With this procedure it is easy to control the rate of growth of individual cells or groups of cells according to any rule or rules. It is also possible to simulate the effects of removing > or = 1 cells from the sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The procedure was successfully applied to modeling some of the changes that can occur in a real sample of human corneal endothelium. The procedure is simple, completely automated, efficient and flexible and can be easily implemented on a personal computer. It can be used to test growth or communication strategies among cells.
Sanchez-Marin
Francisco J
FJ
Department of Optical Engineering (Medical Optics), Centro de Investigaciones en Optica, Leon, Mexico. sanchez@foton.cio.mx
D003198:Computer Simulation; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*