Mathematical analysis of a model for the growth of the bovine corpus luteum.

Prokopiou, Sotiris A., Byrne, Helen M., Jeffrey, Mike R., Robinson, Robert S., Mann, George E. and Owen, Markus R. (2014) Mathematical analysis of a model for the growth of the bovine corpus luteum. Journal of Mathematical Biology, 69 (6). pp. 1515-1546. ISSN 0303-6812

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Abstract

The corpus luteum (CL) is an ovarian tissue that grows in the wound space created by follicular rupture. It produces the progesterone needed in the uterus to maintain pregnancy. Rapid growth of the CL and progesterone transport to the uterus require angiogenesis, the creation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, a process which is regulated by proteins that include fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). In this paper we develop a system of time-dependent ordinary differential equations to model CL growth. The dependent variables represent FGF2, endothelial cells (ECs), luteal cells, and stromal cells (like pericytes), by assuming that the CL volume is a continuum of the three cell types. We assume that if the CL volume exceeds that of the ovulated follicle, then growth is inhibited. This threshold volume partitions the system dynamics into two regimes, so that the model may be classified as a Filippov (piecewise smooth) system. We show that normal CL growth requires an appropriate balance between the growth rates of luteal and stromal cells. We investigate how angiogenesis influences CL growth by considering how the system dynamics depend on the dimensionless EC proliferation rate, ρ₅. We find that weak (low ρ₅) or strong (high ρ₅) angiogenesis leads to 'pathological' CL growth, since the loss of CL constituents compromises progesterone production or delivery. However, for intermediate values of ρ₅, normal CL growth is predicted. The implications of these results for cow fertility are also discussed. For example, inadequate angiogenesis has been linked to infertility in dairy cows.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/738863
Additional Information: The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00285-013-0722-2
Keywords: Corpus luteum ; Angiogenesis ; Piecewise smooth systems ; Sliding bifurcations
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Science > School of Biosciences
University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Science > School of Mathematical Sciences
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00285-013-0722-2
Depositing User: Owen, Markus
Date Deposited: 30 Aug 2016 13:31
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 16:56
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/36102

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