Mathematical Model of a Radiation-Induced Neurogenesis Impairment

Models of radiation-induced neurogenesis disorders are based on a consideration of the age-related dynamics of the changes in the number of progenitor cells during life. However, for a full-fledged analysis of radiation injuries, it is also necessary to know the age-related dynamics of mature cell types—neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes formed from the corresponding progenitor cells. To account for the population of both progenitor cells and mature cell types, we have developed a mathematical model of the radiation-induced impairment of adult neurogenesis based on a model of asymmetric division of neural stem cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus of C57BL mice. This model reproduces experimental data on age-related changes in the number of neural stem cells; amplifying neuronal progenitors; neuroblasts; immature neurons; and, for the first time, mature neurons and astrocytes. The dynamics of changes in the number of oligodendrocytes with age is predicted. The proportions of surviving mature neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes after exposure to X-ray radiation have been calculated.