title: Modeling the Behavior of Red Blood Cells within the Caudal Vein Plexus of Zebrafish.
abstract: Due to the important biological role of red blood cells (RBCs) in vertebrates, the analysis of reshaping and dynamics of RBCs motion is a critical issue in physiology and biomechanics. In this paper the behavior of RBCs within the immature capillary plexus during embryonic development of zebrafish has been analyzed. Relying on the fact that zebrafish embryos are small and optically transparent, it is possible to image the blood flow. In this way the anatomy of blood vessels is monitored along with the circulation throughout their development. Numerical simulations were performed using a specific numerical model that combines fluid flow simulation, modeling of the interaction of individual RBCs immersed in blood plasma with the surrounding fluid and modeling the deformation of individual cells. The results of numerical simulations are in accordance with thein vivoobserved region of interest within the caudal vein plexus of the zebrafish embryo. Good agreement of results demonstrates the capabilities of the developed numerical model to predict and analyze the motion and deformation of RBCs in complex geometries. The proposed model (methodology) will help to elucidate different rheological and hematological related pathologies and finally to design better treatment strategies.
authors: Research and Development Center for Bioengineering, BioIRCKragujevac, Serbia; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of KragujevacKragujevac, Serbia.
authors: Tijana R
authors: TR
authors: Djukic
authors: Topographic and Clinical Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University of BernBern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of BernBern, Switzerland.
authors: Swapna
authors: S
authors: Karthik
authors: Research and Development Center for Bioengineering, BioIRCKragujevac, Serbia; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of KragujevacKragujevac, Serbia.
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Saveljic
authors: Topographic and Clinical Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Valentin
authors: V
authors: Djonov
authors: Research and Development Center for Bioengineering, BioIRCKragujevac, Serbia; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of KragujevacKragujevac, Serbia; Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard UniversityBoston, MA, USA.
authors: Nenad
authors: N
authors: Filipovic
keywords: blood flow; caudal vein plexus; comparison with experimental data; deformable objects; mathematical modeling; solid-fluid interation; zebrafish embryo