Biomathematics Seminar
Tuesday 12/03/07
Speaker: Drew Pasteur

Title: A Multiple-Inhibin Model of the Human Menstrual Cycle

Abstract:
Inhibin is one of several hormones which collectively regulate the human
female reproductive endocrine system. In recent years, physiologists
have been able to separately assay two forms of inhibin.  After fitting new
data to an existing delay differential equation model of the human
menstrual cycle, we consider the existence and stability of equilibrium
and periodic solutions, and also analyze bifurcations. Because the introduction
of exogenous hormones, whether pharmacological or environmental, can have
significant effects on the menstrual cycle, we model the effects of
these external hormones.  Finally, we introduce an expanded model that more
fully accounts for the actions of both forms of inhibin.