The paper presents an image-based network model of retinal vasculature taking account of the 3D vascular distribution of the
retina. Mouse retinas were prepared using flat-mount technique and vascular images were obtained using confocal microscopy.
The vascular morphometric information obtained from confocal images was used for the model development. The network model
developed directly represents the vascular geometry of all the large vessels of the arteriolar and venular trees and models
the capillaries using uniformly distributed meshes. The vasculatures in different layers of the retina, namely the superficial,
intermediate, and deep layer, were modeled separately in the network and were linked through connecting vessels. The branching
data of the vasculatures was recorded using the method of connectivity matrix of network (the graph theory). Such an approach
is able to take into account the detailed vasculature of individual retinas concerned. Using the network model developed,
a circulation analysis based on Poiseuille’s equation was carried out. The investigations produced predictions of spatial
distribution of the pressure, flow, and wall shear stress in the entire retinal vasculature. The method developed can be used
as a tool for continuous monitoring of the retinal circulation for clinical assessments as well as experimental studies.
Keywords Mouse retina - Confocal scanning microscopy - Network topology - Morphometric information - Network model - Capillary model - Connectivity matrix of network - Poiseuille’s flow - Spatial pressure, flowrate, and wall shear stress
Associate Editor Kerry Hourigan oversaw the review of this article.