Compartmental models of growing neurites

Graham, B. P., and Van Ooyen, A. (2001). Neurocomputing 38-40: 31-36. [Full text: PDF]

Abstract

To investigate the morphological and electrical development of neurons using computer models, it is useful to extend the compartmental modelling framework to include the situation where neurites (dendrites and axons) may change their length, diameter, and membrane characteristics over time. This requires changing the size and other properties of existing compartments and adding new compartments during a particular computer simulation. We have been concerned with modelling the outgrowth of neurites when elongation and branching are controlled by the concentration of a substance in the growth cones. The substance is produced in the soma and diffuses or is actively transported along the growing neurites. We describe the technical issues involved in the compartmental modelling of this situation.