Micropipette aspiration of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells exposed to shear stress

M Sato, M J Levesque, R M Nerem
1987 Arteriosclerosis An Official Journal of the American Heart Association Inc  
The mechanical properties of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells exposed to a fluid-Imposed shear stress were studied using the micropipette technique. The cells, which were attached to a Thermanox plastic substrate, were exposed to a specific steady shear stress of either 10,30, or 85 dynes/cm 2 and for a duration ranging from 0.5 to 24 hours. Morphological changes In shape and orientation were observed, and following each experiment, the mechanical properties were measured using the
more » ... pipette aspiration technique applied to cells detached from the substrate. Fluorescent microscopy was carried out to observe cytoskeletal F-actln filaments stained with rhodamlne phalloldln. During exposure to shear, the en face shape of the endothelial cells on the substrate became more elongated and their long axis became oriented to the direction of flow. There was also an alteration In the F-actln filaments. These changes were dependent on both the level of shear stress and the duration of exposure. After detachment, the cells exposed to shear maintained their deformed shape. This Is In contrast to cells In a static, no-flow environment which became spherical in shape upon detachment. Cells exposed to shear stress demonstrated a mechanical stiffness significantly greater than that of control cells, which was dependent on both the level of shear stress and the duration of exposure. Furthermore, It appears that the influence of shear stress on endothelial cell mechanical stiffness may be related to alterations in cytoskeletal structure. (Arteriosclerosis 7:276-286, Methods Materials Bovine aortic endothelial cells cultured in our laboratory on Thermanox plastic coverslips were used. Fully confluent cultured endothelial cell populations from the 7th to 9th 276 by guest on August 17, 2017 http://atvb.ahajournals.org/ Downloaded from Index Terms: atherosclerosis wall shear stress cell mechanical properties • cytoskeleton • endothelium • hemodynamics by guest on August 17, 2017 http://atvb.ahajournals.org/ Downloaded from M Sato, M J Levesque and R M Nerem Micropipette aspiration of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells exposed to shear stress.
doi:10.1161/01.atv.7.3.276 fatcat:4njvywtrzjevfdg4qkji362w6e