Effects of initial stretch conditions of cultured aortic wall segment on shape and cytoskeletal structure of endothelial cells

Effects of initial stretch conditions of aortic wall segments on shape and cytoskeletal structure of endothelial cells were studied in static culture conditions. Considering the stretch conditions in vivo we cultured the aortic wall segments in six different situations, mostly for 72 h (maximum up to 216h). Changes in cell shape and the cytoskeletal structure were observed by a light microscope and a confocal laser scanning microscope. It was found that the initial shapes, that is, flat or cylindrical, and the initial stretch conditions of aortic wall segments significantly affected the changes in cell shape and cytoskeletal structure by culture duration. Especially the effect of the circumferential strain was quite large. The importance of mechanical environment for endothelial cells was pointed out to keep their configuration.