1. Design and Development of a Discrete Simulation for Optic Nerve Development
By:
Brent Hefty
Greg Tevis
project advisor:
Samuel F. Hunter, M.D., Ph.D.

2. Overall Purpose
To design and implement a simulation for central nervous system generation and repair as a function of micro-environmental interactions.

3. Data Structure Development
Main Tables
Axon Table
Oligodendrocyte Table
Myelin Table
Astrocyte Table
Astrocyte Process Table

4. Sample Table

5. Area Of Interest

6. Axon Representation

7. Oligodendrocyte Representation

8. Myelination Process Representation
Myelination Process Components
Myelinating Oligodendrocyte
Process attached to axon
Maximum of turns at .07 um per turn.

9. Diagram of Total Myelination

10. Astrocyte Representation

11. Proposed Values for Simulation
Axon diameter
small = 0.5um
large = 1.0 um
Oligodendrocyte
um (l, w, h)
Myelin Sheath
.007 / turn
turns = .1-.2um
Astrocyte
um (l, w, h)
Astrocyte Process
max = 60 um

12. Total Proposed Numbers for Simulation
Total Axons
large = 742
small = 495
total = 1237 axons in 5um segments over 2mm.
Oligodendrocytes
Astrocytes

13. Project Status Complete Future Endeavors
Initial tables with fields decided upon.
Decision on the units and type of number representation for fields.
Web page design kept current.
Future Endeavors
Rules for growth in data structure to be established.
Actual data insertion into tables.
Research on VB and SQL.
Design and implementation of growth algorithms. (wish)