A MODEL OF GROWTH AND GROWTH CONTROL IN MATHEMATICAL TERMS, II. COMPENSATORY ORGAN GROWTH IN THE ADULT

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Abstract
The mathematical model for the major carrier wave of growth and growth control proposed by Weiss and Kavanau3 has been tested for the case of compensatory organ growth in the adult by employing an IBM 709 Digital Computer. Upon the basis of these tests it must be concluded that the antitemplates are produced by the generative mass and that four or more of them are required to inactivate each template. Several sample solutions have been determined; in all the cases, the compensatory growth curves for total mass are undulatory in character. This finding is consistent with observations on liver growth following partial hepatectomy in the rat. The model also reproduces the spurt of compensatory growth of an organ system following artifical mass reduction, predicts spontaneous resumption of organ growth after artificial reduction of antitemplate concentration at terminal equilibrium, anticipates that liver cell protein synthesis in the regenerating rat liver will attain its maximum rate before plasma protein synthesis does, and predicts the decrease in rate of regeneration of organ mass with increasing age. Additionally, the model directs attention to a number of questions to be decided by future experimentation.