Numerical analysis of blood flow in reconstructed glomerular capillary segments. 1995

B E Iordache, and A Remuzzi
Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Bergamo, Italy.

Poiseuille's formula is conventionally used to calculate hydraulic resistance of blood capillaries. This law, however, applies to tubes with constant diameter and straight axis. Since blood capillaries, especially in the glomerular microcirculation, are far from having these features, we wanted to estimate the effect of the shape of glomerular capillary segments on the calculation of their hydraulic resistance in comparison to the values obtained with Poiseuille's formula. We studied blood flow through capillary segments of a reconstructed glomerular network from a normal Munich-Wistar rat. Geometrical parameters of capillary segments derived from serial section reconstruction of the glomerulus were used to perform numerical analysis of blood flow. Non-Newtonian properties of blood were simulated by calculating apparent blood viscosity as a function of local rheological parameters for each capillary segment. The numerically calculated hydraulic resistances were always higher than those given by the Poiseuille equation (from 22 to 99%), and this was attributed to the geometrical complexity of the reconstructed vessels. We also performed simulations of the blood flow and filtration along the glomerular network using a previously developed theoretical model that considers the topographical organization of the network structure and dimensions of individual capillary segments. Considering higher hydraulic resistances (as estimated with the numerical analysis) we found that the calculated ultrafiltration coefficient did not change appreciably, but the total network pressure drop and the fraction of filtering surface area at filtration equilibrium were higher than previously estimated.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007678 Kidney Glomerulus A cluster of convoluted capillaries beginning at each nephric tubule in the kidney and held together by connective tissue. Glomerulus, Kidney
D008833 Microcirculation The circulation of the BLOOD through the MICROVASCULAR NETWORK. Microvascular Blood Flow,Microvascular Circulation,Blood Flow, Microvascular,Circulation, Microvascular,Flow, Microvascular Blood,Microvascular Blood Flows,Microvascular Circulations
D008955 Models, Cardiovascular Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of the cardiovascular system, processes, or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers and other electronic equipment. Cardiovascular Model,Cardiovascular Models,Model, Cardiovascular
D009716 Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted Computer-assisted study of methods for obtaining useful quantitative solutions to problems that have been expressed mathematically. Analysis, Computer-Assisted Numerical,Computer-Assisted Numerical Analysis,Analyses, Computer-Assisted Numerical,Analysis, Computer Assisted Numerical,Computer Assisted Numerical Analysis,Computer-Assisted Numerical Analyses,Numerical Analyses, Computer-Assisted,Numerical Analysis, Computer Assisted
D001783 Blood Flow Velocity A value equal to the total volume flow divided by the cross-sectional area of the vascular bed. Blood Flow Velocities,Flow Velocities, Blood,Flow Velocity, Blood,Velocities, Blood Flow,Velocity, Blood Flow
D002200 Capillary Resistance The vascular resistance to the flow of BLOOD through the CAPILLARIES portions of the peripheral vascular bed. Capillary Resistances,Resistance, Capillary,Resistances, Capillary
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017208 Rats, Wistar A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain. Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats
D017597 Renal Blood Flow, Effective The amount of the RENAL BLOOD FLOW that is going to the functional renal tissue, i.e., parts of the KIDNEY that are involved in production of URINE. Blood Flow, Renal, Effective,ERBF,Effective Renal Blood Flow
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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