A 3-DIMENSIONAL DYNAMIC SIMULATION-MODEL OF EPITHELIAL TISSUE RENEWAL

OBJECTIVE: Based on the study of existing simulation and mathematical models, a dynamic simulation and three-dimensional (3-D) visualization model of the normal and pathologic architecture of the nasal epitheli um is proposed. STUDY DESIGN: Positions, sizes, shapes and orientation s of the nuclei, basal lamina and lumen were used for 3-D representati on of the epithelium. Static modeling wits applied to simulate the nor mal, metaplastic and dysplastic stages of the nasal epithelium. Then, dynamic modeling, starting from a static representation of a normal or a pathologic stage, used the starting values of cell proliferation pa rameters to simulate a tissue growth process. The basic hypothesis is that consecutive tranformations through stages are mainly due to incre ased cell growth. RESULTS: Normal tissue renewal and progressive trans itions between normality and hyperplasia after exposure to formaldehyd e were obtained. CONCLUSION: A model that allows study of the evolutio n of the 3-D tissue architecture during the preneoplastic process in e xternal epithelium is now available. Improvement of the model, consist ing of adding information concerning cell communication, extracellular matrix and cell cycle modeling, should help to formulate and sharpen hypotheses concerning structural and kinetic dynamics of this tissue d uring the preneoplastic process.