A computational model of the mechanics of growth of a trophoblast tissue
Description
A computational model of the mechanics of growth of a trophoblast tissue in a chorionic villous, the basic structure of the placenta, during the second trimester of pregnancy is presented in our dissertation. The placental trophoblast is built from two tissue layers---the outer multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast and the inner cytotrophoblast consisting of several mononuclear cells. The tissue is modeled as a collection of elastic neutrally buoyant membranes (cells) filled with viscous, incompressible fluid (cytoplasm), having internal elastic structure (cytoskeleton) with sources of growth located inside cells. In our dissertation we describe how this complex, dynamic fluid-based structure can be modeled successfully using the immersed boundary method. The results of our research presented here include simulations of two processes---cell proliferation and cell fusion, which both play a crucial role in the growth of trophoblast tissue. We present the computed results of simulations of both processes running independently as well as simultaneously, along with comparisons with clinically obtained results and with previous mathematical models. The undertaken investigation gives us a wider view of the dynamic processes occurring inside the trophoblast and facilitates better understanding of their nature