TY - JOUR
T1 - A mathematical model for photoreceptor interactions
AU - Camacho, Erika
AU - Colón Vélez Miguel A., M. A.
AU - Hernández, Daniel J.
AU - Rodríguez Bernier, Ubaldo
AU - Van Laarhoven, Jon
AU - Wirkus, Stephen
N1 - Funding Information:
We would like to thank Carlos Castillo-Chavez for his insights in the modeling of the system and the Center for Nonlinear Studies at Los Alamos National Labs for their support. Part of this work was completed in MTBI 2003, which was supported by the NSF ( DMS 0205985, DBI-0227703 ), National Security Agency ( MDA904-03-1-0078 ), and Sloan Foundation ( 2001-8-4MPHD, 2000-3-7-SS ). We are also grateful for the helpful reviewer comments of this manuscript.
PY - 2010/12/21
Y1 - 2010/12/21
N2 - The interactions between rods and cones in the retina have been the focus of innumerable experimental and theoretical biological studies in previous decades yet the understanding of these interactions is still incomplete primarily due to the lack of a unified concept of cone photoreceptor organization and its role in retinal diseases. The low abundance of cones in many of the non-primate mammalian models that have been studied make conclusions about the human retina difficult. A more complete knowledge of the human retina is crucial for counteracting the events that lead to certain degenerative diseases, in particular those associated with photoreceptor cell death (e.g., retinitis pigmentosa). In an attempt to gain important insight into the role and interactions of the rods and the cones we develop and analyze a set of mathematical equations that model a system of photoreceptors and incorporate a direct rod-cone interaction. Our results show that the system can exhibit stable oscillations, which correspond to the rhythmic renewal and shedding of the photoreceptors. In addition, our results show the mathematical necessity of this rod-cone direct interaction for survival of both and gives insight into this mechanism.
AB - The interactions between rods and cones in the retina have been the focus of innumerable experimental and theoretical biological studies in previous decades yet the understanding of these interactions is still incomplete primarily due to the lack of a unified concept of cone photoreceptor organization and its role in retinal diseases. The low abundance of cones in many of the non-primate mammalian models that have been studied make conclusions about the human retina difficult. A more complete knowledge of the human retina is crucial for counteracting the events that lead to certain degenerative diseases, in particular those associated with photoreceptor cell death (e.g., retinitis pigmentosa). In an attempt to gain important insight into the role and interactions of the rods and the cones we develop and analyze a set of mathematical equations that model a system of photoreceptors and incorporate a direct rod-cone interaction. Our results show that the system can exhibit stable oscillations, which correspond to the rhythmic renewal and shedding of the photoreceptors. In addition, our results show the mathematical necessity of this rod-cone direct interaction for survival of both and gives insight into this mechanism.
KW - Circadian rhythm
KW - Limit cycle
KW - Rod-derived cone viability factor
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.09.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.09.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 20837028
AN - SCOPUS:77957567370
SN - 0022-5193
VL - 267
SP - 638
EP - 646
JO - Journal of Theoretical Biology
JF - Journal of Theoretical Biology
IS - 4
ER -