Isometric contraction by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in tissue culture: a quantitative study

We have used an isometric force transducer to study contraction of two types of nonmuscle cells in tissue culture. This method permits the quantitative measurement of contractile force generated by cells of defined type under the influence of external agents while allowing detailed morphological obs...

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Format: Online
Language:English
Published: The Rockefeller University Press 1992
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2289400/
id pubmed-2289400
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spelling pubmed-22894002008-05-01 Isometric contraction by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in tissue culture: a quantitative study Articles We have used an isometric force transducer to study contraction of two types of nonmuscle cells in tissue culture. This method permits the quantitative measurement of contractile force generated by cells of defined type under the influence of external agents while allowing detailed morphological observation. Chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF), which form a contractile network inside a collagen matrix, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVE), which are located in a monolayer on the surface of the collagen matrix, were studied. CEF and HUVE in 10% FCS produce a substantial tension of 4.5 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) dynes/cm2 and 6.1 x 10(4) dynes/cm2, respectively. Both cell types contract when stimulated with thrombin, generating a force per cell cross-sectional area of approximately 10(5) dynes/cm2, a value approximately an order of magnitude less than smooth muscle. The integrity of the actin cytoskeleton is essential for force generation, as disruption of actin microfilaments with cytochalasin D results in a rapid disappearance of force. Intact microtubules appear to reduce isometric force exerted by CEF, as microtubule-disrupting drugs result in increased tension. Contraction by HUVE precedes a dramatic rearrangement of actin microfilaments from a circumferential ring to stress fibers. The Rockefeller University Press 1992-04-01 /pmc/articles/PMC2289400/ /pubmed/1556157 Text en This article is distributed under the terms of an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike–No Mirror Sites license for the first six months after the publication date (see http://www.rupress.org/terms). After six months it is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 4.0 Unported license, as described at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).
repository_type Open Access Journal
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution US National Center for Biotechnology Information
building NCBI PubMed
collection Online Access
language English
format Online
title Isometric contraction by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in tissue culture: a quantitative study
spellingShingle Isometric contraction by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in tissue culture: a quantitative study
title_short Isometric contraction by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in tissue culture: a quantitative study
title_full Isometric contraction by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in tissue culture: a quantitative study
title_fullStr Isometric contraction by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in tissue culture: a quantitative study
title_full_unstemmed Isometric contraction by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in tissue culture: a quantitative study
title_sort isometric contraction by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in tissue culture: a quantitative study
description We have used an isometric force transducer to study contraction of two types of nonmuscle cells in tissue culture. This method permits the quantitative measurement of contractile force generated by cells of defined type under the influence of external agents while allowing detailed morphological observation. Chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF), which form a contractile network inside a collagen matrix, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVE), which are located in a monolayer on the surface of the collagen matrix, were studied. CEF and HUVE in 10% FCS produce a substantial tension of 4.5 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) dynes/cm2 and 6.1 x 10(4) dynes/cm2, respectively. Both cell types contract when stimulated with thrombin, generating a force per cell cross-sectional area of approximately 10(5) dynes/cm2, a value approximately an order of magnitude less than smooth muscle. The integrity of the actin cytoskeleton is essential for force generation, as disruption of actin microfilaments with cytochalasin D results in a rapid disappearance of force. Intact microtubules appear to reduce isometric force exerted by CEF, as microtubule-disrupting drugs result in increased tension. Contraction by HUVE precedes a dramatic rearrangement of actin microfilaments from a circumferential ring to stress fibers.
publisher The Rockefeller University Press
publishDate 1992
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2289400/
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